Apeldoorn, Netherlands, May 30, 2019 – The Netherlands and Brazil are aiming to repeat last year’s respective victories against Poland and Bulgaria, respectively, when they meet in Pool 8 of the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations League.
Poland – Netherlands (May 30, 2019)
Head-to-head
• Netherlands have won seven of their 10 world level major tournament matches against Poland, including each of the last four.
• World level major tournaments are Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
• At the 2018 Volleyball Nations League, Netherlands beat Poland 3-0. This was their last meeting at world level major tournaments.
• Nine of the 10 world level major tournament meetings between Poland and Netherlands were decided in straight sets. The only exception was a 3-2 Poland win on 13 November 2010, which is also the last Polish win against the Dutch.
Poland
• Poland started their 2019 Volleyball Nations League season with a defeat against Italy, followed by victories against Germany, Thailand, Bulgaria and Brazil.
• Poland could win five of their first six matches at the 2019 VNL. In last year's campaign, Poland did not record their fifth victory until their 11th encounter.
• Poland could win five VNL matches in a row for the second time, after six in a row from May to June 2018.
• Malwina Smarzek is the most productive scorer in the 2019 VNL with 146 total points. On Wednesday, she ended up as top scorer in the match against Brazil with 28 points.
Netherlands
• Netherlands have two wins and three defeats at the 2019 Volleyball Nations League.
• After their 3-1 win over Bulgaria on Wednesday, Netherlands could win back-to-back VNL matches for the first time since June 2018 (4 in a row).
• Netherlands have lost three of their first five matches at the 2019 VNL. In 2018, they lost three of their first 15 matches in the competition.
• Marrit Jasper became top scorer in the match between Netherlands and Bulgaria with 22 points. Nicole Oude Luttikhuis is top scorer for Netherlands at the 2019 VNL on 64 points.
Brazil – Bulgaria (May 30, 2019)
Head-to-Head
• Bulgaria's track record against Brazil in world level major tournaments is of the winning sort, with six wins in 10 encounters.
• World level major tournaments are: Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
• The last world level major tournament meeting between Brazil and Bulgaria came in the first round of the 2014 world championship, with Brazil winning 3-0.
• Brazil could now win back to back world level major tournament matches against Bulgaria for the first time.
Brazil
• Brazil started their 2019 Volleyball Nations League with three victories and two defeats. Last season, Brazil lost only one of their first 10 matches in the VNL.
• Brazil have played back-to-back five setters, Tuesday's win over Netherlands and Wednesday's defeat against Poland. The last time they played three straight five setters within a single world level major tournament was at the 2012 World Grand Prix (all wins).
• Brazil have won three of the five five-setters they played at the VNL. They lost against Italy on 14 June 2018 and against Poland on Wednesday.
• Brazil could lose back-to-back VNL matches for only the second time. In 2018, they lost consecutive matches against Turkey (semi-finals) and China (third-place match) 3-0.
• Gabriela Braga Guimaraes is Brazil's overall top scorer at the 2019 VNL on 92 points.
Bulgaria
• Bulgaria have yet to claim their first victory in the Volleyball Nations League, as they lost each of their first five matches in their maiden Volleyball Nations League campaign.
• Bulgaria could become the second team to lose their first six VNL matches, after Argentina last year (first 12 matches).
• Bulgaria have not lost more than five matches in a row in a single major competition since the 1981 World Cup, when they lost their first six matches.
• Gergana Dimitrova is Bulgaria's leading scorer at the 2019 VNL with 66 points. She scored 16 points in the 3-1 defeat against Netherlands.
Quick links - Volleyball:
FIVB.com - Volleyball Nations League
FIVB.com - Volleyball
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram