Macau, China, May 27, 2019 - Belgium and Korea are first up in 2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations League Pool 7, before hosts and reigning Olympic champions China take on Thailand. Get the head-to-head statistics below.
Belgium - Korea (May 28, 2019)
Head-to-head
· In last season's Volleyball Nations League, these teams met for the first time in world level major competitions (Volleyball Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup).
· Belgium won that match in straight sets in Ningbo, China. Kim Yeonkoung was the leading points scorer in the match on 17 points, in a losing effort by Korea.
· Belgium have won their last two major encounters with Asian opposition, after losing eight of their previous nine.
Belgium
· Belgium started their 2019 Volleyball Nations League campaign with a straight sets defeat against USA, before rebounding with victories over Bulgaria (3-2) and Japan (3-1).
· Belgium can win three consecutive matches in major competitions at world level for the first time since 2014, when they won three in a row in the World Grand Prix.
· Britt Herbots led Belgium's charge on 55 points in the opening weekend, 44 of which came off attacks.
Korea
· Korea started their 2019 Volleyball Nations League with three defeats in the opening week, claiming only one single set in those three defeats.
· Korea are one of three teams to start their 2019 Volleyball Nations League campaign with three defeats, alongside Bulgaria and Germany.
· Korea have now lost 12 of their last 13 matches in world level major competitions (Volleyball Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup).
· Their only victory in that run came against Trinidad & Tobago in last year's world championship.
Korea celebrate a point against Turkey last week
China - Thailand (May 28, 2019)
Head-to-Head
· China have beaten Thailand in 19 of their 21 encounters in world level major competitions (Volleyball Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix and Grand Champions Cup).
· Thailand's only world level major competition wins against China were a 3-1 at the 2011 World Grand Prix and a 3-2 at the 2012 World Grand Prix.
· The only Volleyball Nations League match between China and Thailand took place on 23 May 2018, with China winning 3-1.
· The last world level major competition confrontation between China and Thailand took place in the second round of the 2018 world championship. China won in straight sets.
China
· In week 1 of the 2019 Volleyball Nations League, China lost 3-0 to Brazil and 3-1 to Russia before beating Dominican Republic 3-1.
· China cold start the 2019 VNL with the same results as the 2018 edition: two wins and two defeats in the first four matches.
· China could win back-to-back VNL matches for the third time. They have never won three VNL matches in a row.
· Li Lin was the most efficient receiver in week 1 of the 2019 VNL, with a rate of 46.00%.
Thailand
· Thailand have a win and two losses so far in the 2019 Volleyball Nations League. They beat Germany and lost to Italy and Poland. All matches ended 3-0.
· At the 2018 VNL, Thailand also started with one win in their first three matches. They lost their fourth encounter 3-1 against Serbia.
· Thailand could lose three consecutive VNL matches for the second time, after a run of nine defeats in May-June 2018.
· Thailand could already equal their wins total of the 2018 VNL, when they beat Argentina 3-0 and Poland 3-2.
· Ajcharaporn Kongyot is Thailand's most prolific scorer in the 2019 VNL, on 29 total points.
Quick links - Volleyball:
FIVB.com - Volleyball Nations League
FIVB.com - Volleyball
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