Macau, China, May 29, 2019 – Korea are going for back-to-back wins, while China are seeking their first three consecutive wins in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League when they face Thailand and Belgium, respectively, on Week 2’s second day of play.
Korea – Thailand (May 29, 2019)
Head-to-Head
• Thailand won their last meeting with Republic of Korea at world level major competitions (Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup), a 3-2 triumph at last year's world championship.
• This came after Republic of Korea had won seven of their first eight encounters in major competitions.
• Republic of Korea and Thailand also met in the inaugural Volleyball Nations League last year. Visiting side Republic of Korea triumphed 3-1 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Korea
• On 28 May, Republic of Korea beat Belgium 3-0 to end an eight-match losing streak in the Volleyball Nations League.
• The victory over Belgium marked Republic of Korea's sixth win at the Volleyball Nations League in total (13 defeats), and their third in straight sets, after 3-0 victories over China and Russia last season.
• Republic of Korea could win back-to-back Volleyball Nations League matches for the second time, after a four-match winning run in May of last year.
• Heejin Kim is Republic of Korea's top scorer on 52 points of which 49 spikes.
Thailand
• Thailand have won only one of their last 13 Volleyball Nations League matches, a 3-0 win over Germany in their opening match of the 2019 campaign on 21 May.
• Thailand have lost their last three Volleyball Nations League matches by a 3-0 scoreline. They last lost four successive world level matches in straight sets at the 2016 World Grand Prix (versus Serbia, Brazil, Russia and China).
• Thailand need one more victory to equal their number of wins from last season's Volleyball Nations League: two.
• Thailand won only one block point in their match against China on 28 May (Tichakorn Boonlert).
• No Thai player reached double figures in scoring in that match against China. Chatchu-On Moksri scored a team-high nine points.
China – Belgium (May 29, 2019)
Head-to-Head
• China won all their four previous matches against Belgium at world level major tournaments: 3-1 at the 2014 World Grand Prix, 3-0 at the 2014 World Championship, 3-0 at the 2016 World Grand Prix and 3-0 at the 2018 Nations League.
• In their meeting at last season's Volleyball Nations League tournament on 16 May 2018, Belgium only managed to score 47 points, but they did have the match's top scorer in Kaja Grobelna (18 points).
• World level major tournaments are Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
China
• After losing their first two matches at the 2019 Volleyball Nations League against Brazil (3-0) and Russia (3-1), China have now won their last two against Dominican Republic (3-1) and Thailand (3-0).
• China could win three successive Volleyball Nations League matches for the first time.
• China last won three successive matches at a world level tournament at the 2018 World Championship, when they won six matches in a row until their semi-final defeat against Italy.
• Four players managed double digits in scoring in China's match against Thailand on 28 May: Xiangyu Gong (13), Xinyue Yuan (12), Changning Zhang (12) and Yingying Li (11).
Belgium
• Belgium's two-match winning streak in the Volleyball Nations League came to an end with their 3-0 defeat to Republic of Korea on 28 May.
• Eight of Belgium's 13 defeats at the Volleyball Nations League have now come in straight sets, including each of their last three losses.
• In their match against Republic of Korea on 28 May, Belgium only scored one point from a serve against 11 by Republic of Korea. Silke Van Avermaet scored that point (six attempts).
• Britt Herbots is Belgium's top scorer on 68 points.
Quick links - Volleyball:
FIVB.com - Volleyball Nations League
FIVB.com - Volleyball
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