Lausanne, Switzerland, July 15, 2017 - Reigning world champions USA are up against reigning Olympic champions China Sunday in Macau, just a day after they suffered their first defeat of the 2017 FIVB World Grand Prix Saturday to Italy in five sets. China still hold the edge over USA historically, leading the World Grand Prix head-to-head series 21-18 despite a 3-0 sweep by the Americans last week.
Head-to-Head• China have won 21 of their previous 37 World Grand Prix meetings with United States.
• United States have won nine of their last 12 matches against China in the competition, including their last three. Last week, United States won in straight sets.
• China have only won more World Grand Prix matches against Japan (23) than versus United States (21).
China• China have won three of their five 2017 World Grand Prix matches, also suffering straight-set defeats against United States and Italy.
• China could equal their total number of defeats in the World Grand Prix campaigns of 2015 and 2016 (both 3).
• Of China's last six World Grand Prix defeats, four came against United States.
• Only in 2010 (4) and 2011 (3) have China had more than two straight-set defeats in a single World Grand Prix campaign.
United States• United States' last match was a five-set defeat against Italy, after they had started their 2017 World Grand Prix campaign with four victories.
• That was only United States' fourth loss in their last 34 World Grand Prix matches, with two of those defeats coming against China.
• United States could lose consecutive World Grand Prix matches for the first time since back-to-back defeats against Brazil in August 2014.
• United States have won five and lost five of their last 10 World Grand Prix matches to have gone to a deciding set.