Bari, Italy, June 18, 2016 – The Netherlands will be hoping to make it three wins from three against Italy in 2016 when they face each other in the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix on Saturday.
Head-to-Head
· This will be the ninth encounter between Netherlands and Italy at the World Grand Prix. Netherlands won five times versus three victories for Italy.
· Their last meeting in the competition came in 2010. Italy won in straight sets.
· Italy could win consecutive matches versus the Dutch at the World Grand Prix for the first time.
· They already met twice in 2016, at both the European and World Olympic Qualification tournament. Netherlands won both matches 3-0.
The Netherlands
· Netherlands lost 3-0 against Russia on Friday, their first straight-set defeat at the World Grand Prix since 17 August 2013 (against Brazil).
· Netherlands could lose back-to-back World Grand Prix matches for the first time since a four-match losing streak in August 2013.
· Netherlands have won 10 of their last 12 World Grand Prix matches. In this run, both defeats came against Russia.
· Anne Buijs scored a team-high 11 points in Netherland's 3-0 defeat against Russia (nine spikes).
Italy
· Italy's match against Thailand was postponed after a blackout.
· Italy lost their opening match at the 2016 World Grand Prix against Brazil (3-1), but they have won their matches against Serbia (3-1) and Japan (3-2).
· Paola Ogechi Egonu, with 17 years the youngest player in Italy's squad, has scored most points for Italy at this year's World Grand Prix (46).