Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 8, 2016 -
Serbia need one win against Japan to balance the head-to-head record between the two teams at the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix. They have this opportunity on the very first competition day in Group 1 of the 2016 edition, as the two sides are set to face each other in Rio de Janeiro.
Head-to-Head
• Japan have won three matches against Serbia at the World Grand Prix, losing two.
• Japan have won their last two matches against Serbia. They can become the first of these two teams to win three matches in a row against the other.
• Japan have lost their last three matches against CEV teams (two versus Italy, one versus Russia), while Serbia have lost their last three matches against AVC sides (versus Korea, Thailand and Japan).
Japan
• Japan have claimed one silver medal at the World Grand Prix, in 2014.
• Last year Japan finished sixth. They have never finished worse than ninth in all 23 of their previous participations.
• Japan have won exactly 100 matches at the World Grand Prix (162 losses).
• Japan have lost their last five matches and eight of their last nine. Their only win in this span was the 3-0 against Thailand on 18 July 2015.
• Eight of Japan's last 10 matches ended in straight sets.
Serbia
• Serbia twice claimed a bronze medal at the World Grand Prix, in 2011 and 2013.
• So far, they have made five appearances. They also finished 11th in 2012 and eighth in 2014 and 2015.
• Serbia have lost seven of their last 10 World Grand Prix matches.
• Serbia have played 14 five-setters at the World Grand Prix, winning only three.