Lausanne, Switzerland, June 8, 2015 - Brazil made it four wins out of four matches this year defeating Australia twice this weekend in FIVB Volleyball World League Pool A. The last eight times Brazil won the opening four matches, they went on to reach the final.
Pool A: Brazil - Australia (5 and 7 June)• Brazil have kicked off the 2015 World League season with four consecutive wins. The last eight times Brazil won the opening four matches, they went on to reach the final (2013, 2011, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2001).
• Australia have lost six in a row for the first time since their 14-match losing streak in their World League debut campaign in 1999.
• Brazil have now won their last five matches in São Bernardo do Campo.
Pool A: Italy - Serbia (5 and 7 June)
• On Friday, Serbia recorded their first victory of this World League season, beating Italy 3-1 in Pesaro. They have won only one of their opening four matches. They lost the first two for the first time since 2008, when they kicked-off with three straight defeats.
• On Sunday, Italy gained a tie-break victory for the first time in the World League since a 3-2 win over Bulgaria in the 2013 third-place decider.
Pool B: Poland - Iran (5 and 6 June)
• For the first time, Iran have lost their opening four matches of a World League season. They are now on a six-match losing streak, their worst run in the competition ever.
• Poland have now won their last six World League matches, their best streak since winning seven consecutive matches in 2012.
• Poland have won their first four World League matches for the first time since 2007, when they were first defeated in the semifinal by Brazil.
• Bartosz Kurek scored a season-high 30 points in Poland’s 3-1 win against Iran on 5 June.
Pool B: United States - Russia (5 and 6 June)
• Russia have lost five consecutive World League matches for the first since a 10-match losing streak in 1997.
• United States have won their last six matches in Long Beach, California, including four matches against Russia.
• Defending champions United States have now played 250 World League matches. Their record: W133-L117.
Pool C: Canada - Argentina (5 and 6 June)
• On Friday, Argentina lost against Canada in straight sets, their first 3-0 defeat in the World League since 25 May 2014, when France proved too strong in Mendoza.
• No team have won more World League matches in straight sets this season than Canada (3, joint-most with France).
• With three straight-set victories, Canada have already matched their total of last World League season.
Pool C: Cuba - Bulgaria (5 and 6 June)
• After their two wins over Cuba, Bulgaria have already won more World League matches this year (3), than in the whole of last season (1).
• Bulgaria have won only four of their last 17 World League matches, all wins came against NORCECA sides.
• Bulgaria’s Georgi Manchev scored eight blocks against Cuba on Saturday to equal the highest scored blocks in a single match this season (Finland’s Konstantin Shumov against Belgium on 30 May)
Pool D: Korea Republic - Czech Republic (6 and 7 June)
• The last time Korea kicked-off a World League season with three successive defeats was in 2012.
• Korea have lost their last nine matches that went to a fifth set, since a 3-2 win against Italy in the 2012 intercontinental rounds.
• Korea have won only three of their last 14 World League matches against European opposition.
Pool D: Japan - France (6 and 7 June)
• Japan recorded their fifth and sixth consecutive defeat against France in the World League. They have won only one of their last 14 meetings with France, a 3-1 intercontinental round victory in 2007.
• Both matches ended in straight sets. No team have won more World League matches by a 3-0 score line this season than France (3, joint-most with Canada).
• Last World League campaign, France won a season-high seven matches in straight sets.
• Japan have now won only two of their last 10 World League matches on home soil.
• Yuki Ishikawa was Japan’s top scorer in their 3-0 defeat against France on Sunday, scoring only nine points, the equal-fewest points for a top scorer in a match this World League season. Netherlands’ Niels Klapwijk was also top scorer against Belgium on Sunday with only nine points.
Pool E: Finland - Portugal (5 and 7 June)
• Portugal lost both matches against Finland and are now on 101 World League defeats. Portugal became the 12th country to reach this milestone (at least 100 World League defeats).
• For the first time since 2012, Portugal have lost their opening four matches of a World League season. They are now on a six-match losing streak, their worst run in the competition since 20 defeats in a row in 2011-2013.
Pool E: Netherlands - Belgium (6 and 7 June)
• Netherlands are enjoying their best start of a World League campaign since 2010, when they also won their opening three matches and lost match number four.
• Netherlands have now won 10 of their last 14 World League matches on home soil.
• Niels Klapwijk was Netherlands’ top scorer in their 3-0 defeat against Belgium on Sunday scoring only nine points, the equal-fewest points for a top scorer in a match this World League season. Japan’s Yuki Ishikawa was also top scorer against France on Sunday with only nine points