Bendigo, Australia, June 2, 2016 - Croatia and Cuba are the two teams that have the honour to open the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix 2016 campaign with a Group 3 match in Australia.
Head-to-Head
• This will be the first meeting at a world level tournament between Croatia and Cuba since the 2010 World Championships first round. Croatia won in straight sets.
• These teams also met at the 2000 Olympic Games. In the quarterfinals Cuba proved too strong as they won in straight sets.
• Croatia have lost their only World Grand Prix encounter with a NORCECA side at the World Grand Prix as they were defeated by Puerto Rico in 2015 (3-1).
• Cuba's last win against a CEV side at the World Grand Prix was in 2012 against Serbia (3-0). They lost their last eight encounters with CEV teams.
Croatia
• Croatia will participate for the third time after being present at the 2014 and 2015 World Grand Prix.
• They finished 20th (2015) and 23rd (2014) at their previous participations.
• Croatia lost all of their six group 2 matches at the 2015 World Grand Prix while they won five out of eight group 3 matches at their debut.
Cuba
• Cuba have participated 21 times at the World Grand Prix. They have won the tournament twice: the inaugural World Grand Prix in 1993 and the 2000 edition.
• Cuba also grabbed silver on four occasions and claimed another two bronze medals. Their total tally of eight is joint fourth-most with United States.
• Last year, Cuba won their first match of the World Grand Prix against Australia in straight sets.
• They have won and lost three matches at the 2015 World Grand Prix. Besides their win against Australia they also defeated Algeria and Kazakhstan, both in straight sets.