Lausanne, Switzerland, July 8, 2017 - Each having lost both their opening matches in the 2017 FIVB World Grand Prix, Russia and Italy meet Sunday in Kunshan - and one will have to leave China winless after the first weekend. It's the 18th time the two sides come head-to-head in the history of the competition and Russia enjoy a very healthy 15-2 lead in the series.
Head-to-Head• Russia won 15 of their previous 17 World Grand Prix meetings with Italy, only losing in 2004 (3-2) and 2007 (3-1).
• Russia are unbeaten against Italy in each of the last four editions of the World Grand Prix - 3-1 in 2013, 3-1 in 2014, 3-1 and 3-0 in 2015, and 3-2 in 2016.
• Italy won their last meeting with Russia at the World Championship, 3-1 in the third round in 2014.
• Russia could lose three successive World Grand Prix matches against European sides for the first time, after a five set defeat against both Serbia and Netherlands in last year's edition.
Russia• Russia have started their 2017 World Grand Prix with five-set defeats against United States and China.
• They could lose their first three matches of a World Grand Prix campaign for the first time.
• Russia's last match in 2016 was also five-match defeat, against Netherlands in the third-place playoff.
• In total, Russia have lost their last four matches and could lose five in a row for the first time.
• Kseniia Parubets was the top scorer in their most recent match against China with 20 points. Against United States, she was joint-top scorer with 13.
Italy• Italy hope to claim their first win this World Grand Prix, after two defeats against China and United States.
• The last year they lost their first three matches was in 2000, with one of those defeats a 3-0 against Russia.
• Italy's next defeat will be their 100th loss in the World Grand Prix (106 wins).
• Paola Egonu was their top scorer against United States on 12 points. Indre Sorokaite scored 14 points for Italy against China.