Lausanne, Switzerland, June 16, 2018 - After both scored two wins each on Friday and Saturday, Italy and Australia go head-to-head on Sunday in Seoul, aiming to wrap up Week 4 of the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League with a third victory. But Australia have only beaten Italy once in 17 encounters, three years ago in the 2015 FIVB World League.
Head-to-Head
• Australia won only one of their 17 world level major tournament matches against Italy, 3-0 in Jesolo in the 2015 World League (12 June 2015).
• The world level major tournaments are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• Italy have won four consecutive world level major tournament matches versus Australia in straight sets, since their only world level major tournament defeat against them (2015 World League).
• Only one of the 17 world level major tournament matches between Italy and Australia has gone to a deciding set, when the Italians were victorious 3-2 in the preliminary round of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Italy
• Italy have a W7-L4 record at this year's VNL.
• Their 3-2 win against Korea was Italy's third five-setter in five matches.
• In total, Italy have already played four matches at this VNL that needed a deciding set. The last time they played five matches at world level that needed five sets was at the 2015 World League (5).
• Italy can win three VNL matches in a row for second time after they won their opening three fixtures against Germany, Brazil and Serbia.
• Italy scored a tournament-high 18 points from blocks in their 3-2 victory over Korea.
Australia
• Australia have won three matches in a row at the VNL.
• Australia can record four successive victories at world level major tournaments for the first time since a run of four wins at the 2017 World League, when they beat China, Slovakia, Finland and Japan.
• Australia's 41-39 set win in the second set against China (3-1) on Saturday was the highest set score at world level since China's 41-39 set win against Turkey in the World League on 17 June 2017.
• Paul Carroll scored 31 points against China, including 28 spikes. Jordan Richards added 23 points.