Lausanne, Switzerland, June 18, 2017 - Russia meet Iran Sunday in Lodz for the eighth time in FIVB World League history, with the Europeans leading the series 4-3. Russia are currently 4-4 this season, with Iran at 3-5 and effecteively knocked out of the race for a ticket to the Final Six in Curitiba.
Head-to-Head• These teams met seven times in the World League, with Russia owning a slightly positive balance 4-3.
• Russia won the last encounter on 4 July 2015, ending a three-match losing streak against Iran.
• In their first four World League encounters, Iran managed to win one more set with every next match. They started with a straight sets defeat, than lost 3-1, and 3-2 before winning 3-1.
Russia• Russia improved their 2017 World League record to four wins and four defeats after a hard fought 3-2 victory over United States on Saturday. Both USA and Russia scored 115 points in a thriller.
• Russia have now won three World League matches in a row for the first time since winning four straight in June-July 2014.
• Egor Kliuka was Russia’s top scorer against United States with 22 points, while Ilyas Kurkaev recorded six kill blocks.
Iran• After their 3-0 defeat against Poland, Iran have won three and lost five World League matches in 2017.
• Iran have lost both matches this weekend in straight sets. They can now suffer three straight-set defeats in a row for the first time within a single campaign.
• Iran are in danger of losing three straight matches within a single World League campaign. This has not happened to them since they lost the first four in the 2015 season.
• Nine Iranian players contributed in the team’s 57-point effort on Saturday, however no one registered more than eight points.