Lausanne, Switzerland, June 2, 2018 - After three dramatic wins in five-setters (over Bulgaria and Russia), Serbia wrap up Week 2 of the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League Sunday in Sofia against Australia. The 'Volleyroos' scored their first win of the season on Saturday over pool hosts Bulgaria, but have beaten Serbia only once in six attempts - last time the two met, at the 2015 FIVB World League.
Head-to-Head
• These teams have met six times in world level major competitions, with Serbia (including Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro) winning five times and Australia once.
• World level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• Australia won the last world level major competition match between these teams. They won in five sets during the 2015 World League. This was also the only five-setter between these teams in world level major competitions.
• Serbia booked three of their five wins against Australia in straight sets (once as Serbia & Montenegro).
Serbia
• Serbia have won their last two matches at the VNL, both in five sets: versus Bulgaria and Russia.
• The last time Serbia won three major world level matches in a row that went to a fifth set was from 2005 to 2006 (seven in a row as Serbia & Montenegro).
• Serbia have lost at least one set in each of their last 10 major world level fixtures, since a 3-0 win against Belgium at the 2017 World League.
• Drazen Luburic scored 29 points against Russia, at least 16 points more than any of his teammates.
Australia
• By beating Bulgaria 3-0, Australia claimed their first victory at the VNL.
• Australia could win successive major world level fixtures for the second time in the last three years (2016-2018), after a run of four at the 2017 World League.
• That four-match winning streak started with two straight-set victories, the last time Australia avoided losing a set in successive major world level matches.
• Six of Australia's last eight victories at major world level came against European opposition.
• Lincoln Williams (15) scored most points for Australia in their win against Bulgaria.
• Williams has scored 76 points in total at the VNL, at least 44 more than any of his teammates.