Lausanne, Switzerland, June 9, 2015 - China will make their 16th FIVB Volleyball World League appearance. Last season, China finished in 23rd place, their worst finish ever in the competition.
Pool G: Country specific statistics
China· China will participate in their 16th World League, most of all countries in Group 3.
· Their best result is a sixth place in 1996. In last year's edition, China finished in 23rd place, their worst finish in the competition.
· China have won six of their last eight World League matches coming into the 2015 edition. They won last year's ultimate match against Slovakia (3-1) to finish in third place of Group 3.
Mexico· Mexico will partake in their second World League after making their debut in the competition in 2014.
· They won their first two matches of 2014 against Tunisia (3-0) and Turkey (3-2), but failed to win each of their next four: straight sets defeats against Cuba (twice) and Turkey and a 3-2 defeat to Tunisia.
· Both World League wins came on home soil, in Mexico City. The first week of play for Pool G will be in Tepic, Mexico.
· Mexico finished in 25th place in the 2014 World League.
Slovakia· Slovakia made their debut to the World League in 2014 and will enter the tournament for a second time.
· They won three of the first five matches, but lost their last three including the Group 3 semifinal against Turkey (3-0) and the final for third place in Group 3 against China (3-1).
· Off all four teams in Pool G, Slovakia has the best winning percentage coming into the 2015 World League with 38%. Mexico and Greece follow with 33% each and China with 27%.
· The Final Four of Group 3 will be held in Bratislava, Slovakia this year.
Greece· Greece will make their 11th appearance in the World League and their first since 2005. Their best result is a fifth place in 2004.
· In their last participation in the competition, in 2005, Greece lost their last three matches. The last two defeats came in straight sets.
· Greece won only one of their six World League matches away from home in their last participation. At home they won four out of six in 2005. This week the competition will be held in Mexico, next week Pool G will play their matches in Greece.
Pool G: Head-to-head
Slovakia v China (June 12)· These teams will meet for the fourth time in the World League. China won two of the previous meetings (both 3-1) of which one was the final for third place in Group 3 last year.
· Slovakia's only victory against China in the competition came in straight sets.
· China have won four of their last five World League matches against sides representing the European Volleyball Confederation (EVC). Before this streak they won only one out of the previous 14.
Mexico v Greece (June 12)· Mexico and Greece will meet for the first time in the World League.
· Greece have won their last six matches against NORCECA sides, after losing the first two. All of these match-ups came against United States.
· Mexico's only win over European opposition came on home soil, a 3-2 win over Turkey in Mexico City.
China v Greece (June 13)· These teams have never met in the World League.
· Greece won both of their meetings with China at the world championships: a 3-1 win in 2002 and a 3-1 win in 1998.
· Greece have won seven of their 12 World League meetings with teams representing the AVC, winning at least a set in the last 10.
Mexico v Slovakia (June 13)· Mexico and Slovakia have never met in the World League
· Slovakia played two matches against NORCECA sides in the competition, both in 2014. They lost to Puerto Rico in five sets in Carolina and beat them 3-1 on home soil in Košice.
· Slovakia's team (27 years, 151 days) is on average almost four years older than Mexico's team (23 years, 204 days).
Slovakia v Greece (June 14)· This will be the first World League meeting between Slovakia and Greece.
· Greece have won only one of their last six World League matches against sides representing Europe.
· Slovakia and Greece have met twice at the European championships. Slovakia beat Greece 3-1 in 1997 (group stage) and Greece prevailed in five sets in 2009 (group stage).
Mexico v China (June 14)· Mexico and China will meet for the first time in the World League.
· Mexico will meet a side representing the AVC for the first time in the World League. China have played NORCECA sides 20 times in the competition winning seven of those, including three of the last five.
· These teams met at the 2014 World Championship, with China beating Mexico 3-1.