Lausanne, Switzerland, June 24, 2017 - Slovenia continue their stunning FIVB World League run from rookies last year in Group 3 to the doorstep of gold this season in Group 2, when they face Japan Sunday at Australia's Gold Coast. The two teams meet for the second time this year, after Japan handed Slovenia their only defeat of the season in ten matches.
Head-to-Head• Slovenia and Japan will meet for the second time in a major competition. The first time also was a World League match, won 3-2 by Japan on 10 June of this year.
• Slovenia have played five World League matches against AVC teams, winning four and losing one.
• Japan have won their last three World League matches against European competition. They can win four in a row for only the second time, after beating Germany three times and Russia once in consecutive matches during the 1993 season.
Slovenia• Slovenia defeated Netherlands in the semi-final on Saturday: 3-0.
• This was Slovenia's 16th win in 18 total World League matches. Their only defeats in the competition came against Japan this season and against Greece last season.
• Slovenia have secured victory in all of their 15 World League matches in which they won the first set. In three matches, they lost the first set – these ended in two defeats and a rare win against Venezuela in 2016.
Japan• Japan were on the winning end of a thriller at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Hosts Australia were beaten 3-2 by the Japanese.
• This was Japan’s sixth win in their last eight World League matches. The last time they won six out of eight was in 1993.
• Japan's last four World League matches went to a fifth set. They won two and lost two of those four.