Lausanne, Switzerland, June 13, 2018 - The Dominican Republic face Japan, Wednesday in Walbrzych, looking at putting an end to their six-match losing streak at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League. The Caribbean side have only Japan three times in their previous 18 encounters - but that includes the last time they met, in last year's FIVB World Grand Prix.
Head-to-Head
• The Dominican Republic have won only three of their previous 18 major world level encounters with Japan, but one of those wins came in their most recent meeting.
• The women's world level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
• The Dominican Republic won 3-0 at the 2008 World Grand Prix, 3-1 at the 2009 Grand Champions Cup and 3-1 at the 2017 World Grand Prix.
• Japan's last major world level win against the Dominican Republic came at the 2015 World Cup: 3-2.
Dominican Republic
• The Dominican Republic have won two of their 13 VNL matches: 3-0 wins over Thailand and Argentina.
• The Dominican Republic could claim three straight-set victories in a single world level major tournament for the first time since the 2016 World Grand Prix.
• The Dominican Republic have won each of their last three world level major tournament matches when they had been victorious in the opening set.
• The Dominican Republic have lost their last six VNL matches, including the last four in straight sets. They could suffer five straight three-set defeats within a single world level major tournament for the first time since the 2015 World Grand Prix (all 9).
• Brayelin Martinez (208 points) is the Dominican Republic's most prolific VNL scorer. She scored a team-leading 12 points in their 3-0 defeat against Russia on Tuesday.
Japan
• Japan have won six and lost seven matches in the 2018 VNL.
• Three of Japan's six VNL wins have come by a 3-0 scoreline. The last time Japan won (at least) four straight-set matches in a single edition of a major world level competition was at the 2015 World Cup (6).
• Four of Japan's seven VNL losses also have come by a 3-0 score line. The last time Japan suffered (at least) five straight-set defeats in a single edition of a major world level competition was at the 2015 World Grand Prix (6).
• Japan could become the first nation to lose 300 matches in major world level competitions. They have 327 wins and 299 defeats to date.
• Japan have won eight of their last 10 five-setters in world level major competitions, although they lost 3-2 against Poland on Tuesday.