Brasilia, Brazil, May 23, 2019 - Reigning Olympic champions China will take on the Dominican Republic and hosts Brazil play Russia in 2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations League Pool 3 on Thursday. Get the head-to-head statistics below.
China - Dominican Republic (May 23, 2019)
Head-to-Head
· China have won 21 of their 22 matches against Dominican Republic at world level major competitions (Volleyball Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup).
· China have won 10 major encounters in a row versus Dominican Republic since their only defeat against them at the 2010 World Grand Prix (3-2).
· Their meeting at the 2018 Volleyball Nations League ended in a 3-0 victory for China in their opening match in the competition.
· China scored 11 points from blocks in the match in Ningbo and Yingying Li was China's top scorer on 16 points.
China
· China have lost both of their matches at this year's VNL, 3-0 against Brazil and 3-1 versus Russia.
· In the 2018 VNL, China started the competition with two wins, before a loss against Republic of Korea in their third match.
· China could lose their opening three matches of a world level major tournament for the third time, after defeats in their first three matches at the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000 and in Barcelona in 1992.
· After two matches at the 2019 VNL, Yanhan Liu is their team's top scorer on 29 points.
Dominican Republic
· Dominican Republic celebrated their first-ever victory over Brazil (3-1) at a world major level tournament in their second match at this year's VNL.
· Dominican Republic could win their opening three match at a world level tournament for the second time in team history, after winning their first seven matches at the 2014 World Championship.
· After two matches in this year's VNL, Brayelin Elizabeth Martinez (42 points, 4th most), Candida Estefany Arias Perez (8 stuff blocks, 3rd most) and Larysmer Martinez Caro (2.38 average as digger, 3rd most) are among the leaders in these statistical categories.
· Dominican Republic could win four matches in a row at world level for the first time since a run of seven victories at the 2016 World Grand Prix.
Brazil - Russia (May 23, 2019)
Head-to-Head
· Brazil won 12 of the last 13 encounters between these teams in major international competitions, including each of their last four.
· This includes their meeting in the inaugural Volleyball Nations League last year, in which Brazil emerged victorious in five sets in Jiangmen, China.
· Tandara Caixeta led the charge for Brazil in that match on 30 points, 14 more than her next most prolific teammate, Ana Beatriz on 16. Russia were led by Natalia Malykh on 17 points.
· Russia's last major victory over Brazil dates back to the 2015 World Grand Prix, when Russia triumphed in straight sets in Omaha, United States.
· Each of the last three major meetings between these two that went to five sets were won by Brazil, following a 3-2 triumph by Russia in the final of the 2010 World Championship.
Brazil
· Brazil defeated China (3-0) in their opening match, but then suffered their first-ever loss against Dominican Republic (3-1) at world level in their second match at this year's VNL.
· The last time Brazil lost two of their first three matches at a world major tournament was at the 2017 Grand Champions Cup, when they beat Russia and lost against China and Japan.
· Brazil last lost back-to-back matches at world level in the semi-finals and third-place decider in last year's Volleyball Nations League, against Turkey and China respectively.
· After two matches at this year's VNL, Gabriela Braga Guimaraes has scored 49 points. Only Poland's Malwina Smarzek (59) has scored more points.
· Leia Henrique Da Silva Nicolosi has registered 27 excellents as receiver, with a 50% efficiency, highest of all players. Russia's Kristina Kurnosova is second-highest on this list at 40%.
Russia
· Russia defeated China 3-1 in their second match at the 2019 VNL, following a 3-1 defeat in their opening match against Dominican Republic.
· Russia scored 15 points from blocks against China, who had 14 points from blocks.
· Russia can win two of their first three matches at the VNL for the second year in a row.
· If Russia lose against Brazil they will have lost at least two of their first three matches at a world level tournament for the first time since the 2017 Grand Champions Cup.
· Margarita Kurilo is Russia's top scorer after two matches at the 2019 VNL on 38 points.
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FIVB.com - Volleyball Nations League
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