Lausanne, Switzerland, May 11, 2018 - Italy face Turkey for the 11th time in a world competition, when they clash to open Pool 3 of the Volleyball Nations League in Lincoln, USA. Turkey have only beaten Italy once, in 2014, at world level, though they have won their last two meetings at European Championships, both in 2011.
Head-to-Head
• In 10 major world level encounters, Turkey have won only once against Italy.
• World level major competitions are: Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
• Turkey's sole win came at the 2014 World Grand Prix, where they won 3-1 in the preliminary round.
• Their most recent major world level encounters came at the 2017 World Grand Prix. Italy won both matches: 3-0 and 3-1.
• Turkey have won their last two meetings with Italy at the European Championships, both in 2011: 3-2 in the group stage and 3-2 in the final for third place. They had lost their first six against them.
Turkey
• Turkey have claimed one medal at a world level major competition as they finished third at the 2012 World Grand Prix.
• Turkey also collected bronze at the last year's European Championships, their third medal in this tournament after silver in 2003 and bronze in 2011.
• Turkey won the women's volleyball tournament at the inaugural edition of the European Games, in Baku in 2015.
• The last world level major competition in which Turkey participated was the 2017 World Grand Prix. They won two of their nine matches, including one against a fellow CEV country: 3-1 versus Belgium.
• Turkey are currently ranked 12th on the world ranking.
Italy
• Italy have won three titles at major world level competitions: the 2002 World Championships and the World Cup in 2007 and 2011.
• Italy won the European Championships on two occasions, in 2007 and 2009.
• At last year's World Grand Prix, Italy won silver after losing to Brazil in a tight five-setter in the final.
• Italy (7) are the team to have won the most medals at the World Grand Prix without winning a single gold. They claimed three second-places and four third-places.
• Paola Egonu finished as the second-best scorer (149) and the best spiker (49.8%) at the 2017 World Grand Prix. Teammate Monica De Gennaro (77.5%) had the best receiving percentage of all players.
• Italy are currently seventh on the world ranking. After their second place at last year's World Grand Prix they surpassed Netherlands which finished fifth in the tournament.