Lausanne, Switzerland, July 18, 2017 - Reigning world champions USA meet The Netherlands Thursday in Cuiaba in a rematch of the Rio 2016 Olympics bronze medal match which USA won in four sets. In fact, USA have won all of their seven last encounters with The Netherlands. Last time the Dutch got one over the Americans was at the 2009 World Grand Prix in five sets.
Head-to-Head• United Stated have won their last seven encounters with Netherlands at world level.
• Their most recent encounters came at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Team USA beat the Dutch in a pool match and then in the bronze medal match.
• Netherlands' last major victory over United States dates back to the 2009 World Grand Prix. The Dutch won 3-2 in Chinese Taipei.
United States• After starting their 2017 World Grand Prix season with four straight victories, United States have dropped two in a row, against Italy and China.
• United States had not lost back-to-back matches in the competition in the 33 matches that preceded their current losing run.
• Last season, Team USA lost only two of their 13 World Grand Prix matches in the season.
• Michelle Bartsch-Hackley has reeled off 14 aces on serve this season, most by any player in Group 1.
Netherlands• Netherlands have won five of six to start their 2017 World Grand Prix campaign, their only defeat coming against Japan.
• Netherlands finished third in the World Grand Prix last season. They have not finished in the top six in back-to-back seasons in the competition.
• In Netherlands' three victories last weekend, Celeste Plak paced her team with 53 points across three matches.
• Plak ranks joint-third in points scoring in Group 1 and has amassed 102 in total this season.