Conegliano, Italy, May 30, 2019 – Reigning champions USA are looking to extend their unbeaten start when they play the Dominican Republic in the first match, while Italy are seeking to bounce back in the competition when they play their World Championship final rivals Serbia in Pool 5 at the FIVB Volleyball Nations League.
Dominican Republic – USA (May 30, 2019)
Head-to-Head
• United States and Dominican Republic have met in 18 world level major tournament matches, with United States winning 16 and Dominican Republic two.
• World level major tournaments are: Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
• United States have won their last 13 world level major tournament matches against Dominican Republic (2006-2018).
• The two wins for Dominican Republic against United States in world level major tournaments came at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and at the 2006 World Grand Prix, both in five sets.
• The last meeting between these teams occurred at the 2018 Volleyball Nations League, when United States beat Dominican Republic in straight sets.
Dominican Republic
• Dominican Republic started their 2019 Volleyball Nations League tournament with victories over Russia and Brazil before losing against China, Italy and Serbia. All matches ended 3-1.
• Dominican Republic could already equal their total wins from the 2018 VNL campaign, when they were victorious in three matches (12 defeats).
• Dominican Republic have won at least one set in each of their last seven VNL matches, their longest set-winning streak in the competition. Dominican Republic had won a set in only six of their first 13 VNL matches.
• Brayelin Elizabeth Martinez (97 total points) is Dominican Republic's most prolific scorer in the 2019 VNL.
United States
• United States have started their 2019 Volleyball Nations League with five victories, 3-0 over Belgium, 3-1 against Japan, 3-0 versus Bulgaria, 3-1 against Serbia and 3-2 versus Italy.
• United States have won 22 of their 24 VNL matches, including each of their last 11. The only exceptions were a 3-1 loss against Serbia and a five-set defeat against Turkey in 2018 (both in the league round).
• United States are the first ever team to have started a single VNL campaign with five wins.
• United States could equal the VNL record of winning 12 consecutive matches, set by Italy.
• Including their 3-2 win over Italy on Wednesday, United States have won three of four VNL matches that went the distance. They only lost their first five-set encounter, against Turkey last year.
• Madison Kingdon Rishel (19 points), Simone Lee (13), Chiaka Ogbogu (12) and Andrea Drews (10) all reached double figures in scoring against Italy on Wednesday.
Serbia – Italy (May 30, 2019)
Head-to-Head
• Serbia have won six of their last eight matches against Italy at world level major tournaments, including each of their last two.
• World level major tournaments are: Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup.
• Serbia and Italy played the final of the 2018 world championship, which Serbia won in five sets after having been 1-0 and 2-1 down in sets.
• Italy's last win against Serbia came in the 2018 Volleyball Nations League, in five sets.
Serbia
• Serbia have three wins and two defeats at the 2019 Volleyball Nations League.
• Serbia beat Dominican Republic on Wednesday (3-1), ending a losing streak of two matches, their joint-longest at the VNL.
• Serbia could lose three of their first six VNL matches in 2019. In last year's competition, they lost three of their first 15 VNL matches.
• Ana Bjelica was top scorer in the match between Serbia and Dominican Republic on Wednesday, scoring 24 of her team's 93 points (23 attacks, 1 serve).
Italy
• After winning their first four matches at the 2019 VNL, Italy suffered their first defeat on Wednesday as United States proved too strong (3-2).
• The defeat against United States ended a run of 12 consecutive victories, the longest stretch of any team in VNL history. Italy's last defeat was a 3-2 against Japan, exactly one year earlier (29 May 2018).
• Italy could lose consecutive VNL matches for the second time, after losing the first four matches of the 2018 campaign.
• Indre Sorokaite was Italy's most productive scorer against USA on Wednesday, scoring a match-high 22 points. Elena Pietrini and Miryam Fatime Sylla (14 points each) also reached double figures.
• Indre Sorokaite is Italy's top scorer at the 2019 VNL, with 94 total points.
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FIVB.com - Volleyball Nations League
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