Lausanne, Switzerland, June 5, 2018 - After suffering their first defeat of the season on the closing day of Week 2 to Brazil, USA will want to pick up again at the start of Week 3, as they go head-to-head with Germany Friday in Ottawa for the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League. The Germans on the other hand, come come into the match following their sensational upset over Poland last weekend. The two sides of Friday's match meet for the 17th time in history, with the Americans leading the series 10-6.
Head-to-Head
• Germany (including as East Germany and West Germany) and the United States will meet for the 17th time in a world level major competition. USA won 10 times, Germany six.
• World level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• The last time Germany and USA met in a world level major competition was in the preliminary round at the 2012 Olympic Games, when USA claimed a 3-0 victory. Both teams were ultimately eliminated in the quarterfinals.
• USA's last two victories over Germany in world level major competitions came in straight sets (also at 2010 world championship), while Germany's last two wins against USA were five-setters (2006 world championship, 2012 World League).
• In total, the last eight major world level matches between Germany and USA were played in either three sets (four times) or five sets (four times), since a 3-1 win for USA at the 2001 World League.
Germany
• After losing their first three matches at the 2018 VNL, Germany won two of their three fixtures in week 2: 3-1 victories over China and Poland.
• The last time Germany won consecutive major world level fixtures was on 10-11 June 2017: 3-0 victories over Spain and Mexico at the World League.
• Germany have not played a five-setter in any of their last 21 major world level matches, since a 3-2 defeat against Montenegro in their opening fixture of the 2016 World League.
• Simon Hirsch in Germany's top scorer in the Nations League on 66 points.
• Hirsch (12) was one of five German players to score at least nine points in the 3-1 win over VNL leaders Poland last Sunday.
United States
• United States started their 2018 VNL with five consecutive victories but lost their final match in week 2, 3-2 against Brazil. USA had won the first two sets against Brazil.
• The last time USA lost consecutive matches in world level major competition was at the 2017 Grand Champions Cup, when they lost their final two fixtures: 3-2 against Brazil, 3-1 against Italy.
• USA have won at least one set in 61 of their last 62 matches at major world level tournaments, including in each of the last 31 since a 3-0 defeat against Canada in their opening fixture of the 2016 Olympic Games.
• Matthew Anderson scored a match-high 23 points in the 3-2 defeat against Brazil.
• Benjamin Patch is still USA's top scorer in the 2018 VNL on 73 points.
• Only Russia's Igor Kobzar (1.81) has a higher average of running sets than Micah Christenson (1.60).