Lausanne, Switzerland, June 13, 2017 - Poland will need to beat the historical odds of an 8-15 head-to-head FIVB World League record against Russia Thursday in Katowice, as both have to also battle the intensity of securing a berth in the Final Six of the competition in Curitiba.
Head-to-Head• Poland and Russia have met 23 times in the World League. Poland won eight of these encounters and Russia 15.
• Poland have lost only more matches against Brazil (25) than against Russia (15) in the World League.
• Last year, these teams met twice in the World League with Russia winning both matches; 3-0, 3-1.
• In 2015, Poland had won all four encounters with Russia.
• Four of the five five-setters between these teams in the World League have been won by Poland.
Poland• Poland have won their last encounter against Canada (3-1). They can win consecutive matches for the second time this World League after winning the opening two.
• Poland's last 15 World League victories have finished in either 3-1 or 3-2. The last time they claimed a straight set victory was against Russia on 28 May 2015.
• Poland is the only team in Group 1 to have won and lost the same number of sets: 13-13.
• Pawel Zatorski is the second best digger in the 2017 World League Group 1 (1.85 per set). Only Canada's Cameron Bann Blair has an higher average (2.45).
Russia• Russia won their last match against Italy in a five-setter, ending a four-match losing streak.
• Russia have not won two five-setters in a row at the World League since May 2012 when they prevailed in five sets against Serbia and Japan.
• Russia have already lost the same number of matches as in the 2016 World League (4).
• Russia have not won their first set in their last three World League encounters.