Lausanne, Switzerland, May 22, 2018 - Korea host Russia Wednesday in Suwon as they try to overcome an overwhelming 6-43 head-to-head record against the Europeans. Korea last beat Russia at the 2014 FIVB World Grand Prix in four sets.
Head-to-Head
• Korea and Russia (including the Soviet Union) meet for the 50th time at world level major tournaments.
• The women's world level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
• Russia won 43 of the previous 49 encounters, including the last three. Most recently they won 3-0 at the 2017 Grand Champions Cup.
• Korea last beat Russia at the 2014 World Grand Prix, 3-1.
• The Russians won both encounters played in Korea, 3-0 at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games (as URS) and 3-1 at the 2006 World Grand Prix.
Korea
• Korea lost their opening Nations League match, 3-0 against Belgium, but have won all three since.
• Korea's current three-match Nations League winning streak directly followed a run of seven consecutive straight-sets defeats at world level major tournaments, which followed an eight-match winning streak at world level major tournaments.
• Korea have won six of the last seven world level major tournament matches they have hosted, with the only exception in that run a 3-1 defeat against Serbia in Ansan in the 2014 World Grand Prix.
• Korea have won all seven world level major tournament matches played in Suwon.
• Kim Yeon-Koung (89) is Korea's leading VNL scorer. She amassed 29 points against both Dominican Republic and Germany.
Russia
• Russia have won three of their four VNL matches, with the only exception a straight-sets defeat against Netherlands.
• Russia could win consecutive world level major tournament matches in straight sets for the first time since the 2016 Olympic Games (against Cameroon and Japan).
• Russia have lost each of their last seven five-setters at world level major tournaments, since a 3-2 win against Italy at the 2016 World Grand Prix.
• Kseniia Parubets (74) is Russia's leading VNL scorer.