Kaliningrad, Russia, August 3, 2019 – Hosts Russia and Korea claimed their second victories in Tokyo Volleyball Qualification Pool E on Saturday as the hosts defeated Canada 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-22) and Korea outplayed Mexico 3-0 (25-21, 25-15, 26-24). Russia and Korea meet on Sunday in Kaliningrad to decide the pool winners.
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Korea - Mexico (August 3, 2019)
Head-to-Head
• Republic of Korea and Mexico meet for the first time in the last seven world Olympic qualifying campaigns (1996-2020).
• Republic of Korea defeated Mexico in straight sets at the Mexico City 1968 Olympic Games and at the 1974 World Championship, their only meetings at major world level tournaments.
• Major world level tournaments are: Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix, Nations League, Grand Champions Cup.
Republic of Korea
• Republic of Korea started their quest for a Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games berth with a 3-1 win against Canada.
• Republic of Korea could qualify for the Olympic Games for the 12th time. They only missed out on the 1980, 1992 and 2008 editions.
• Yeon Koung Kim (37) was the leading points scorer in Republic of Korea's opening victory versus Canada.
• Republic of Korea scored a total of 96 points against Canada: 37 by Yeon Koung Kim, 30 by the other Korean players combined and 29 from opponent errors.
Mexico
• Mexico lost their qualifying opener 3-0 against Russia in Kaliningrad.
• Mexico's only participation in the Olympic Games was as the host nation in 1968. They finished in seventh place after winning only one of their seven matches (3-0 against USA).
• Jocelyn Urias and Andrea Rangel (both 9) were Mexico's joint-leading points scorers against Russia.
• Coach Claudio Torres Garcia gave all 12 of his Mexican team members playing time versus Russia.
Russia – Canada (August 3, 2019)
Head-to-Head
• Russia and Canada meet for the first time in the last seven world Olympic qualifying campaigns (1996-2020).
• Russia (incl. predecessors) are unbeaten against Canada in major world level competition, winning all seven matches.
• Major world level tournaments are: Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix, Nations League, Grand Champions Cup.
• Canada failed to win a set in their last three world level matches against Russia, since a 3-1 defeat at the 1991 World Cup (against Soviet Union).
• Their most recent world level meeting was a 3-0 Russia win at the 2010 World Championship.
Russia
• Russia beat Mexico in straight sets in their qualifying opener in Kaliningrad.
• Russia (NOC) could participate in the Olympic Games for the seventh (successive) time. Unified Team (once) and Soviet Union (6 times) also participated in the Olympic Games.
• The only time Russia, Soviet Union or Unified Team were not present in the women's tournament at the Olympic Games was in 1984. Soviet Union had qualified for that tournament but boycotted the Games.
• Russia won each of their last nine matches in world Olympic qualification, dropping only one set.
• Nataliya Goncharova scored a match-high 12 points against Mexico on Friday. No other player on either side managed to reach double figures in scoring.
Canada
• Canada lost their first match in 2020 Olympic Games qualifying, 3-1 against Republic of Korea.
• Canada participated in the Olympic Games in 1976, 1984 and 1996. They did not finish higher than eighth place in those editions.
• Alexa Lea Gray (22), Kiera Van Ryk (13) and Emily Maglio (11) all reached double figures in scoring for Canada against Republic of Korea.
• Emily Maglio won a match-high four stuff blocks versus Republic of Korea on Friday.