Lausanne, Switzerland, June 8, 2017 - Finland host China Friday in Helsinki in what is the first FIVB World League encounter between the two sides in 24 years, after the Asian side swept their four matches in the 1993 edition.
Head-to-Head• These nations are set to meet for the first time in the World League since 1993, when China won all their four intercontinental round matches against Finland, dropping just one set.
• On 19 June 1993, China beat Finland 3-0 in the World League, their first ever straight-set victory in competition's history.
• These nations most recently clashed at a major tournament on 13 September 2014, when China recorded a five-set group stage victory over Finland at the 2014 World Championship.
Finland• Finland recorded a straight-set victory against Slovakia in their opening D2 fixture after losing their opening three matches of the 2017 World League.
• Finland's three defeats have already equalled the total number of losses they sustained in last year's World League.
• Only once before have Finland won consecutive World League matches in straight sets - versus Portugal in 2006.
• Finland have won the opening set in 11 of their last 12 World League matches, winning seven and losing four of those 11 fixtures they took the first set.
China• Of China's last seven World League defeats, five have been in straight sets, including the 3-0 loss against Australia in their opening D2 fixture.
• China have not had consecutive straight-set World League defeats since 2010, both against Italy.
• Only one of China's last 13 World League matches has gone to a fifth set, the 3-2 defeat against Turkey in their opening fixture of this year's edition.
Jiang Chuan (76) has scored almost double the points in this year's World League than his nearest teammate (Chen Longhai 39).