Lausanne, Switzerland, May 19, 2018 - Neighbouring rivals Belgium and The Netherlands meet for the ninth time in a world competition Tuesday in Toyota, Japan, with the Dutch enjoying a comfortable 7-1 lead in the series and looking at remaining undefeated after four matches in the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League.
Head-to-Head
• Belgium have won one of their eight matches against The Netherlands at world level major tournaments, the 3-2 win at the 2014 World Grand Prix.
• The women's world level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
• Belgium have only lost more major world level matches against Brazil (8) than versus The Netherlands (7).
• The Netherlands had won the first four encounters against Belgium, and they have also won the last three matches against them, most recently a 3-2 victory in the 2017 World Grand Prix.
Belgium
• Belgium have won two of their first three matches at the VNL and they could now win three matches at a world level major tournament for the first time since four wins at the 2014 World Championships.
• The Belgians won their previous match 3-2 versus Dominican Republic. They have never played two five-setters in a row at world level major tournament.
• It was Belgium's second win in a five-setter at major world level, after beating Netherlands in a decider at the 2014 World Grand Prix.
• Britt Herbots leads Belgian in scoring after the first week, on 50 points, including 28 in the 3-2 win against Dominican Republic.
• Katja Grobelna has scored at least 14 points in the first three matches for a total of 45 points.
The Netherlands
• The Netherlands are one of two teams to have won their first three matches at the VNL, alongside Turkey.
• The last time The Netherlands won four matches in a row at a world level major tournament was at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
• The Dutch can start a world level major tournament with four wins for the first time since winning their first eight matches at the 2015 World Grand Prix.
• The Netherlands have had at least three players scoring 10+ points in each of the three previous matches at the VNL.
• Celeste Plak (47) and Anne Buijs (42) are the top scoring players for The Netherlands this campaign.