Lausanne, Switzerland, June 10, 2018 - Germany look to extend their winning streak to four, Sunday in Ottawa against Australia for the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League, a feat they never managed at world level since a run of six at the 2014 FIVB World Championship. The two sides go head-to-head for the third time in history, with Germany having won both previous encounters, at the 1982 (as East Germany) and 2006 World Championships.
Head-to-Head
• Germany (including as West and East Germany) have won both encounters with Australia in world level major competitions.
• World level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• Germany (as East Germany) won in straight sets at the 1982 World Championship and at the 2006 World Championship, Germany won 3-1 (both in first group stage).
• Australia have won five of their last eight matches against European opposition in world level major competitions, but have lost three of the four matches against European sides at the VNL.
Australia
• Australia have won just one of their eight VNL fixtures, a 3-0 win over Bulgaria on 2 June.
• Five of Australia's last six victories in world level major competition have come against European opposition, with a 3-2 win over Japan at the 2017 World League as the only exception in that run.
• Only USA's Matt Anderson (20) and Aaron Russell (17) scored more points than Thomas Hodges (14) in Australia's 3-1 defeat against the United States on Saturday.
Germany
• Germany beat Canada 3-1 on Saturday to claim their third VNL victory in a row.
• Germany could now record four consecutive major world level wins for the first time since a six-match winning streak at the 2014 World Championships.
• Germany have now won four of their last five VNL matches, with a straight-set defeat against France on 2 June as the only exception.
• Germany have not played a five-setter in any of their last 23 major world level matches, since a 3-2 defeat against Montenegro in their opening fixture of the 2016 World League.
• Simon Hirsch scored a team-high 17 points in Germany's 3-1 win over Canada, including 16 spikes.