Hong Kong, Hong Kong, June 25, 2016 - The top two teams in the current FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix 2016 Group 1 standings will clash on Sunday in Hong Kong in what is one of the longest-running rivalries in the competition.
Head-to-Head
• These teams have met 34 times at the World Grand Prix. Brazil - Japan (39) and Brazil - China (36) are the only fixtures to have been played more often at the tournament.
• China leads United States with 21 wins to 13. They have only recorded more wins against Japan (23) in the competition.
• United States have not lost more than 13 World Grand Prix matches against any other team than China.
• Earlier this tournament, on 12 June, China beat United States 3-1. Yunli Xu (5) scored a third of her team's points from stuff blocks (15). Still, they were outblocked by United States (17-15).
China
• China are the only unbeaten team left in Group 1 of the 2016 World Grand Prix, winning all eight matches.
• Last year, China won all nine of their group matches.
• China have won their last three World Grand Prix matches without dropping a set. They last time they won four successive matches in straight sets was in 2005 (run of 6).
• Yunli Xu scored six points from stuff blocks in China's last match against Germany. She is currently among Group 1's best blockers in the competition with 22 points from stuff blocks, averaging 0.81 per set.
United States
• United States have lost just one of their eight matches at this year's World Grand Prix, the 3-1 defeat against China.
• They have suffered only two defeats in their last 24 matches in the competition, both against China.
• United States were outspiked by their last opponents, Netherlands, but excelled in blocking, serving and avoiding errors.
• Foluke Akinradewo (4), Christa Harmotto Dietzen (4) and Jordan Larson-Burbach (3) scored three or more points from blocks against Netherlands.
• Jordan Larson-Burbach is currently among Group 1's best receivers with an efficiency of 48.67%.