Ankara, Turkey, June 25, 2016 - Belgium are still looking for their second win in FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix 2016 although they are already out of contention for the Group 1 finals. It will be very difficult for them to find it in the match against Italy, especially if the Italians still have a shot at qualification at that time.
Head-to-Head
• Italy won both of their previous World Grand Prix meetings with Belgium (2015) without dropping a set.
• Italy have only played more matches in the competition against Chinese Taipei without losing a single set (4 matches).
• Their most recent meeting came at the 2016 European Olympic Qualification tournament. Italy beat Belgium 3-2.
Italy
• Italy beat Turkey 3-1, ending a four-match losing streak at the World Grand Prix.
• Italy can claim back-to-back wins for the second time this season, after consecutive wins against Serbia and Japan on 10 and 12 June respectively.
• None of Italy's last 12 matches ended in straight sets. Their last 3-0 was the loss to Russia on 22 July 2015.
• Valentina Diouf scored a match-high 17 points for Italy in their match against Turkey. Serena Ortolani scored from a match-high five blocks.
Belgium
• Belgium are still searching for their second World Grand Prix win in 2016 as Brazil proved too strong (3-1).
• Last year Belgium managed to win two of their World Grand Prix matches. On their debut, in 2014, they won eight matches.
• Dominika Sobolska (4) and Lise Van Hecke (3) scored seven of Belgium's nine points from stuff blocks against Brazil.
• Lise Van Hecke is Belgium's top scorer in the competition with 114 points (97 spikes, 11 blocks, 6 aces).