Apeldoorn, Netherlands, May 29, 2019 – Brazil and Poland are looking to follow-up on their wins in Apeldoorn, while Bulgaria are trying to earn their first win in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League against hosts Netherlands on Wednesday.
Poland – Brazil (May 29, 2019)
Head-to-head
• Poland won their first three matches against Brazil at world level major tournaments, at the 1960, 1962 and 1970 world championships, but they have lost all of their 15 meetings since.
• World level major tournaments are Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
• Last season, these teams also met in the Volleyball Nations League. Brazil won 3-0 on 30 May 2018, with Tandara scoring a match-high 22 points.
Poland
• Poland started their 2019 Volleyball Nations League season with a defeat against Italy, followed by victories against Germany, Thailand and Bulgaria.
• For Poland, this marks improvement on last season's campaign when they managed only two victories in their first four Volleyball Nations League matches.
• Poland could win four VNL matches in a row for the second time, after six in a row in May-June 2018, immediately after their 3-0 loss against Brazil.
• Malwina Smarzek is by far the most productive scorer in the 2019 VNL with 117 total points.
Brazil
• Brazil started their 2019 Volleyball Nations League with 3-0 victories over China and Russia, a 3-1 defeat against Dominican Republic and a 3-2 win over Netherlands.
• Last season, Brazil lost only one of their first 10 matches in the Volleyball Nations League.
• Brazil could win three VNL matches in a row. They have had one longer winning streak in the competition – nine matches in May-June 2018.
• After Tuesday's 3-2 win over Netherlands, Brazil have won three of their four five-setters at the VNL, suffering their only loss against Italy on 14 June 2018.
• Gabriela Braga Guimaraes scored 19 points against Netherlands, a match high. She is also Brazil's overall top scorer in the 2019 VNL on 76 points.
Netherlands – Bulgaria (May 29, 2019)
Head-to-head
• Netherlands won their most recent major encounter with Bulgaria at world level, a 3-1 victory in the group stage of the 2014 World Championship.
• Bulgaria had won each of their first four major encounters with the Dutch at world level, most recently in the 2013 World Grand Prix.
• When also considering competitive meetings on a continental level, Netherlands have won five of their last six matches against Bulgaria.
Netherlands
• Netherlands started their 2019 Volleyball Nations League with defeats against Serbia (3-0) and Turkey (3-1), a win against Republic of Korea (3-0) and, on Tuesday, a loss Brazil (3-2).
• Netherlands have lost three of their first four matches at the 2019 VNL. In 2018, they lost three of their first 15 matches in the competition.
• After Tuesday's five-set defeat against Brazil, Netherlands have won three and lost two five-setters at the VNL. In 2018, the other defeat came against Italy, the wins against Belgium, Serbia and Turkey.
• Five Dutch players reached double figures in the loss against Brazil – Marrit Jasper (17), Nika Daalderop, Eline Timmerman (16 each), Nicole Oude Luttikhuis (14) and Juliet Lohuis (12).
Bulgaria
• Bulgaria have yet to claim their first victory in the Volleyball Nations League, as they lost each of their first four matches in their maiden Volleyball Nations League campaign.
• Bulgaria have not lost more than four matches in a row in a single major competition since the 1981 World Cup, when they registered six straight defeats.
• Bulgaria could become the second team to lose their first five VNL matches, after Argentina last year.
• Miroslava Paskova (55 points) and Gergana Dimitrova (51) are Bulgaria's leading scorers at the 2019 VNL.
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FIVB.com - Volleyball Nations League
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