Lausanne, Switzerland, June 2, 2018 - USA are on an amazing seven-match winning streak (all in straight sets) at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League and now go for their ninth, when they take on Russia Tuesday in Jiangmen. The Russians lead the head-to-head 28-23 historically, but they've only beaten the Americans once in their last nine encounters.
Head-to-Head
• There have been 51 matches between Russia (including the Soviet Union and CIS) and the United States at world level major tournaments. The Russians lead the head-to-head 28-23.
• The women's world level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
• Russia have won only one of their last nine world level major tournament matches against the United States, a straight-sets victory in Nagoya in the 2015 World Cup.
• Both of the last two world level major tournament matches between Russia and the United States were won 3-2 by USA, both after the Russians had won the opening set.
• The last time Russia beat the United States in a five-setter in a world level major tournament match was in the 2007 World Grand Prix.
Russia
• Russia have won six of their nine VNL matches, with all three defeats coming in straight sets.
• Russia could win three consecutive matches at a single world level major tournament for the first time since a run of four at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
• Russia have lost six of their last seven world level major tournament matches played in China, with the only exception in that run a 3-1 victory against the hosts in Hong Kong in the 2017 World Grand Prix.
• Irina Voronkova has been Russia's leading scorer in each of their last four VNL matches.
United States
• The United States, Brazil and Serbia are the three teams with a W8-L1 record after nine VNL matches, but the US have 25 points, one more than the Brazilians (24) and two more than the Serbians (23).
• The United States have won eight of their nine VNL matches, with the only exception a 3-2 defeat against Turkey in their second fixture of the tournament.
• The United States have won seven consecutive VNL matches in straight sets. They have dropped only four sets in the tournament - 3-1 victory against Poland and 3-2 defeat versus Turkey in their opening two fixtures.
• The United States could win eight consecutive world level major tournament matches for the first time since a run of nine in a row at the 2016 World Grand Prix.
• The United States have equalled their team record of seven consecutive straight-sets victories in world level major tournament matches, set from 1978 to 1981 (1978 World Championship, 1981 World Cup). That streak came to an end when they lost the third set of a 3-1 victory against Cuba.
• After the opening three weeks of the VNL, a United States player leads the rankings of Best Server (Jordan Larson), Best Setter (Carli Lloyd) and Best Receiver (Kim Hill).