Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 11, 2016 - Italy and Japan are both with 1-1 win-loss record at the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix 2016 Group 1 tournament in Brazil, as they face each other on Sunday looking to secure a top-two finish in Rio.
Head-to-Head
• Italy have won their last three World Grand Prix matches against Japan, all in five sets.
• Italy can now beat Japan four times in a row for the third time, after four successive wins against them from 2004-2008 and 1997-2000.
• Japan last beat Italy on 28 August 2013 (3-0), their last of a run of three consecutive wins over Italy.
• In total these teams have faced each other 19 times at the World Grand Prix. Italy won 12 matches, Japan seven.
Italy
• Italy bounced back with a 3-1 win against Serbia after their opening day defeat to Brazil (3-1).
• Italy last won back-to-back World Grand Prix matches in last year's Final Six - 3-2 wins over China and Japan.
• Last year, Italy started with a defeat on the first day of the World Grand Prix but managed to win the following three matches.
• Four players reached double figures in scoring against Serbia - Miriam Fatime Sylla (20 points), Cristina Chirichella (17), Valentina Diouf (14) and Anna Danesi (14).
Japan
• After winning their 2016 opening match against Serbia (3-0), Japan were beaten by Brazil last Friday (3-0).
• Last year, Japan won two of their first three matches at the World Grand Prix. They lost against Brazil, but beat Serbia and Thailand.
• Yukiko Ebata and Mami Uchiseto both scored 10 points against Brazil, most of all players.