Wroclaw, Poland, August 2, 2019 - Tijana Boskovic scored 28 points and Brankica Mihajlovic 15 as Serbia opened their Tokyo Volleyball Qualification Pool A campaign with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-18) victory against Thailand.
In the second match in Wroclaw on Friday, pool hosts Poland also got off to a strong start with a 3-0 (25-18, 30-28, 25-15) victory against Puerto Rico. Her country's leading scorer, Malwina Smarzek scored 23 points to help Poland to victory.
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Serbia - Thailand (August 2, 2019)
Head-to-Head
· Serbia and Thailand meet for the third time in the last seven world Olympic qualifying campaigns (1996-2020), after 2008 and 2012.
· Serbia won in straight sets in 2008, while Thailand prevailed 3-0 in 2012. Serbia qualified for the Olympic Games in both editions, while Thailand failed to grab an Olympic ticket in those years.
· Serbia have a W5-L4 record against Thailand in major world level tournaments (Olympic Games, FIVB Volleyball World Championship, FIVB Volleyball World Cup, FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix, FIVB Volleyball Nations League, FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup).
· Thailand defeated Serbia 3-0 in the 2019 Volleyball Nations League, their most recent world level encounter.
Serbia
· Serbia are hoping to qualify for the Olympic Games for the fourth time, after 2008, 2012 and 2016. They did not reach the Olympic Games as Serbia and Montenegro or Yugoslavia.
· Serbia claimed silver at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, their best result in the competition. They lost 3-1 to China in the gold-medal match.
· Serbia qualified for the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games through a world Olympic qualification tournament. In 2016, they earned qualification with a top-2 finish at the 2015 World Cup.
· Serbia lost only three of their last 14 matches in world Olympic qualification tournaments: 3-2 against Poland (2008), 3-0 to Thailand (2012) and 3-1 versus Russia (2012).
· Serbia have won each of their last seven world Olympic qualification matches in which they won the first set.
Thailand
· Thailand are the only country in Pool A without a previous participation in the Olympic Games.
· Thailand are participating for the fifth time in the last seven world Olympic qualifying campaigns (1996-2020), after 2004 (5th), 2008 (7th), 2012 (5th) and 2016 (5th).
· Thailand (4) are the nation with the most participations in the last six world Olympic qualifying campaigns (1996-2016) without earning a ticket for the Olympic Games (next 3 Chinese Taipei).
· Thailand have won their last three world Olympic qualification matches.
· Thailand won only one of their last eight matches in world Olympic qualification tournaments against teams representing the CEV, a 3-0 win against Serbia in 2012.
Serbia celebrate a victory during the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations League
Poland - Puerto Rico (August 2, 2019)
Head-to-Head
· Poland and Puerto Rico met once before in the last seven world Olympic qualifying campaigns (1996-2020). In 2008, Poland won in straight sets.
· Poland finished first at the 2008 World Olympic Qualification tournament, while Puerto Rico finished in eighth and last place.
· Puerto Rico won six of their eight encounters with Poland in major world level tournaments (Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix, Nations League, Grand Champions Cup).
· These teams last met at world level in the 2016 World Grand Prix with Puerto Rico winning twice: 3-2 and 3-0. Poland's last world level victory over Puerto Rico was a 3-1 in the 2015 World Grand Prix.
Poland
· Poland could qualify for the Olympic Games for the fourth time, after 1964, 1968 and 2008.
· Poland qualified for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games through the world Olympic qualification tournament.
· Poland won bronze at the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games, their best results in the competition. In 2008, they finished in joint-ninth place.
· Poland won six of their seven matches at the 2008 World Olympic Qualification tournament. They lost their opening match 3-1 to Japan.
Puerto Rico
· In 2016, Puerto Rico won the world Olympic qualification tournament in San Juan, earning their first ticket to the Olympic Games.
· Puerto Rico failed to win a single set at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, finishing in joint 11th and last place (with Cameroon).
· Puerto Rico did not drop a set in their three matches at the 2016 World Olympic Qualification tournament in San Juan. They had won three of their 14 world Olympic qualification matches in their previous two participations (2004 and 2008).
· Puerto Rico lost their last four world Olympic qualification matches against teams representing the CEV.
Related articles: Pools B, C, D, E, F:
- Turkey, Germany and Czech Republic join Pool B hosts China in Ningbo
- USA welcome Argentina, Bulgaria and Kazakhstan in Pool C
- Pool F in Catania features Belgium, Kenya, Italy and the Netherlands