Conegliano, Italy, May 29, 2019 – Serbia and Dominican Republic are looking to end their losing streak, while USA and Italy are clashing for an undefeated run in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League on Wednesday.
Serbia – Dominican Republic (May 29, 2019)
Head-to-Head
• Dominican Republic have won only one of their nine encounters with Serbia in world level major competitions (Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup)
• That triumph took place in the 2011 World Cup, in which the Dominicans emerged victorious 3-2 in Tokyo, Japan.
• Their meeting in last season's Volleyball Nations League was won in straight sets by Serbia, as were each of their last six meetings in major competitions.
Serbia
• After beating Netherlands and Republic of Korea, Serbia have suffered defeats against Turkey and United States at the 2019 Volleyball Nations League.
• Serbia have lost back-to-back VNL matches for the second time, after losing to Turkey and United States in the final round of 2018. Another loss here would indicate their longest ever losing streak in the competition.
• Serbia could lose three of their first five VNL matches in 2019. In last year's competition, they lost three of their first 15 VNL matches.
• In the absence of superstars Tijana Boškovic and Brankica Mihajlovic, Ana Bjelica led Serbia in points against United States on Tuesday, scoring 12 (11 attacks, 1 serve).
Dominican Republic
• Dominican Republic started their 2019 Volleyball Nations League tournament with 3-1 victories over Russia and Brazil before falling 3-1 to China and Italy.
• In the whole of their 2018 VNL campaign, Dominican Republic won a total of three matches (12 defeats).
• Dominican Republic have won at least one set in each of their last six VNL matches, their longest ever such streak in the competition.
• Brayelin Elizabeth Martinez (83 total points) is among the most prolific scorers in the 2019 VNL.
USA – Italy (May 29, 2019)
Head-to-Head
• United States and Italy have met each other 37 times before at world level major competitions. USA have a slight edge with 19 victories to 18.
• World level major tournaments are Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
• Italy have won three of their last four matches against USA at world level major competitions, with the exception in this run a 3-0 defeat at last year's Volleyball Nations League tournament.
• Most recently these teams met at the 2018 World Championship, were Italy beat USA 3-1 in the second round.
USA
• United States have started their 2019 Volleyball Nations League with just victories, 3-0 over Belgium, 3-1 against Japan, 3-0 versus Bulgaria and 3-1 against Serbia.
• United States have now won 21 of their 23 VNL matches, with the only exceptions a 3-1 loss against Serbia and a five-set defeat against Turkey in 2018.
• Both United States and Italy could become the first team to win their first five matches of a single VNL campaign. Netherlands won the first four VNL matches in 2018, a record now equalled by USA and Italy.
• Four players reached double figures in scoring against Serbia on Tuesday: Andrea Drews (22), Dana Rettke (15), Haleigh Washington (15) and Madison Kingdon Rishel (13).
Italy
• Italy have won their first four matches at the 2019 VNL – 3-2 against Poland, 3-0 over Thailand and Germany and 3-1 versus Dominican Republic.
• Last year, Italy lost the first four VNL matches before winning 10 of the other 11 encounters.
• Italy are the first team ever to win 12 consecutive VNL matches. Their last defeat was a 3-2 against Japan, on this exact day a year ago (29 May 2018).
• Indre Sorokaite was Italy's most productive scorer against Dominican Republic on Tuesday, scoring 17 points, including four serve winners.
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FIVB.com - Volleyball Nations League
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