Pool B: Russia - United States (27 June)
Head-to-Head
· United States beat Russia in straight sets last Friday. USA have now won six of their last seven World League matches against Russia, including three matches this year: 3-1, 3-0, 3-0.
· Last year Russia won one of their four WL matches against the United States (3-0).
· The only World League year in which Russia lost four or more matches against a specific opponent is 1997, when they lost five matches against Cuba and five against Netherlands.
Russia
· Russia are bottom of Pool B having lost all of their nine World League matches this season.
· This has knocked them out of contention for the Final Six, with both United States and Poland already on an unassailable victory total (six each).
· In their previous nine participations, Russia finished outside the top six only once (eighth in 2012) and recorded a top three finish on seven occasions within that span.
· Combined with last season, Russia have now lost ten World League matches in a row. This is their longest losing streak since dropping 10 in a row from May to June 1997.
· Russia and Mexico are the only two sides without a win in the 2015 World League.
United States
· United States can clinch a place in the Final Six this weekend. To do so, they must lead Iran by at least three victories following this weekend. They are currently leading Iran by two victories.
· The USA are in search of back-to-back World League trophies, something they have never achieved. The last team to perform the feat was Brazil (2009, 2010).
· Matthew Anderson is top scorer of team USA with 132 points (109 spikes - 12 blocks - 11 serves) in 9 WL matches.