Tucuman, Argentina, June 3, 2016 - Argentina are the clear favourite in their game against Kenya on day one of the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix 2016 Group 2 tournament in Tucuman not only because they have the home-court advantage, but also because they have ever lost a set against this African opponent.
Head-to-Head
• Argentina have yet to lose a set against Kenya after three straight-set wins against them in major competitions.
• Their last encounter came at the 2015 World Cup, when Las Panteras won 25-12, 25-17, 25-20.
• Argentina have won all nine matches against African opposition at major tournaments, dropping only one set, in a 3-1 win against Algeria at the 2011 World Cup.
Argentina
• Argentina have qualified for the Olympic Games for the first time in history, after winning the South American Olympic Qualification tournament in January 2016.
• Argentina are competing at the World Grand Prix for the sixth time and hope to improve their final rank for the first time, after finishing 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 19th respectively in their previous five campaigns.
• They finished in seventh place in Group 2 in 2015, only winning their first match against Croatia (3-1).
• Emilce Sosa scored a team-high 74 points at last year's World Grand Prix.
Kenya
• This is the third World Grand Prix campaign for Kenya. They finished 25th and 21st in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
• Kenya won the Group 3 Finals in 2015, after a 3-1 win against Peru in the final.
• Kenya have won their last five matches at the World Grand Prix, their longest winning streak at the tournament.
• Kenya will not be participating at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games after finishing third at the World Olympic qualification tournament in Puerto Rico last May.