Lausanne, Switzerland, June 6, 2018 - Thailand host Japan Thursday in Nakhon Ratchasima in a bid to put an end to their five-match (all at home) losing streak while at the same time seeking only their second win at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League. But Thailand have not beaten Japan in six years, since the 2012 FIVB World Grand Prix and Japan lead the overall series at world level 13-2.
Head-to-Head
• Japan lead the head-to-head against Thailand at major world level tournaments with 13 wins to 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's major world level victories against Japan both came in five sets, in the 2009 World Grand Prix and the 2012 World Grand Prix.
• The most recent meetings between Thailand and Japan at major world level came at last year's World Grand Prix. Japan won 3-2 and 3-1.
• Thailand versus Japan is a repeat of the Asian Championships finals of 2013 and 2017. In 2013, Thailand secured their second title after a straight-sets win against Japan, while last year Japan claimed their fourth title with a 3-2 victory versus Thailand.
• The first time Thailand finished first at the Asian Championships, in 2009, they beat Japan 3-1 in the semifinal.
Thailand
• Thailand have lost their last five VNL matches.
• Thailand have now lost nine of their 11 matches at the 2018 VNL, including all five at home.
• The last time Thailand won a major world level home fixture was on 23 July 2017, when they beat Italy in straight sets in Bangkok at the 2017 World Grand Prix.
• Thailand's two wins at the 2018 VNL came against Argentina (3-0) on 17 May and versus Poland (3-2) on 24 May.
Japan
• Japan won in straight sets against Korea and can now win two consecutive matches in world level major competitions for the first time since winning their last three matches of the 2017 World Grand Prix.
• Three of their five VNL wins have come by a 3-0 scoreline. The last time Japan won (at least) four straight-set matches in a single edition of a major world level competitions was at the 2015 World Cup (6).
• Four of their six VNL losses have come by a 3-0 scoreline. The last time Japan suffered (at least) five straight-set defeats in a single edition of a major world level competition was at the 2015 World Grand Prix (6).
• Japan have won seven of their last eight five-setters in world level major competitions, with a 3-2 defeat against United States at the 2017 Grand Champions Cup as the only exception in that run. They have played only one five setter so far in the Nations League (3-2 win versus Italy).
• Yuki Ishii has scored a match-high 15 points against Korea to lift her total tally to 112 points for Japan at the 2018 VNL. No other players from Japan have reached a century of points so far.