Lausanne, Switzerland, July 18, 2017 - Italy clash with Turkey Friday in Bangkok in what is the tenth time the two sides come head-to-head in an official world competition. Italy have dropped just one of the previous nine encounters - a 3-1 loss at the 2014 FIVB World Grand Prix in Kaliningrad. Italy have recovered from losing their first two games of the season, with a four-match winning streak. But Turkey have remained at 1-5, after their only win this year, over winless Belgium.
Head-to-Head• Turkey have won only one of their nine encounters with Italy at major tournaments.
• That was their 3-1 triumph in the 2014 World Grand Prix, a match played in Kaliningrad, Russia.
• Italy have won each of their last three major encounters with Turkey, all World Grand Prix matches. This includes the straight sets victory in Macau on 17 July.
Italy• After starting this World Grand Prix season with back-to-back defeats, Italy have won four on the trot.
• This is Italy's longest winning streak in the competition since six in a row in 2012-2013.
• Italy is one defeat away from their 100th in the competition. They have won 110 so far.
• Paola Egonu paced her team last weekend, scoring 64 points across three matches, all Italy victories.
• Egonu leads all of Group 1 in points scoring on 117, of which 98 have come from spikes.
• Egonu is the only spiker to register a success percentage over 50% (54.44%) this season.
Turkey• Turkey have won only one of their six World Grand Prix matches this season. That was against Belgium, the only side which is still without a victory this term.
• This is Turkey's only victory in their last 10 in the competition.
• That win came against European opposition, as Belgium were beaten by 3-1.