Lausanne, Switzerland, June 9, 2018 - Italy need to start this last week of pool play in the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League with a straight-set win over Thailand on Tuesday at home in Eboli, if they're to keep their hopes alive for a ticket to the finals of the competition. Italy lead Thailand 10-2 head-to-head, but have lost the last two. Thailand meanwhile, are on a six-match losing streak in the VNL.
Head-to-Head
• Italy won each of their first 10 matches against Thailand in world level major competitions, but have now lost the last two.
• The women's world level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
• Thailand won 3-2 at the 2016 World Grand Prix and 3-0 at the 2017 World Grand Prix.
• That 3-2 victory for Thailand came in their only world level major fixture played on Italian soil (Bari).
• Italy currently only have a longer winless run in world level major competitions against Brazil (10) than versus Thailand (2).
• The last time these sides met in another world level major tournament than the World Grand Prix was at the 2010 world championships. Italy won 3-0 in the second round.
Italy
• Italy have won seven of their last eight VNL matches, after starting the competition with four consecutive defeats.
• Italy have now won five VNL matches in a row. Only the United States currently have a longer winning streak in the competition (10 matches).
• Italy could win six major world level tournament matches in a row for the first time since six straight at the 2017 World Grand Prix. That run ended with a straight-set defeat against Thailand.
• Four of Italy's seven wins in the 2018 VNL came in straight sets. Italy could record five straight-set victories at a single major world level tournament for the first time since the 2014 World Championship (six 3-0 wins).
• Paola Egonu (134) is Italy's leading VNL scorer.
Thailand
• Thailand have lost their last six VNL matches.
• In total, Thailand have lost 10 of their 12 matches at the 2018 VNL, including all six at home.
• Thailand's two wins at the 2018 VNL came against bottom side Argentina (3-0) on 17 May and versus ninth-placed Poland (3-2) on 24 May. Those victories came in week 1 and 2 of playing respectively, when Thailand had to play their matches outside Thailand.
• With 154 total points, Ajcharaporn Kongyot leads Thailand in scoring at the 2018 VNL.