Lausanne, Switzerland, July 15, 2017 - Russia host The Netherlands Sunday in Kaliningrad as the two teams come head-to-head for the 10th time in FIVB World Grand Prix history. The reinging European champions lead the series 7-2. This is a rematch of last year's bronze medal game in which the Dutch staged a comeback from two sets down to win in five. It's also a rematch of the 2015 European Championship final in which Russia swept The Netherlands 3-0 in Rotterdam.
Head-to-Head• This is the 10th World Grand Prix meeting between these nations.
• Russia have won seven of the previous nine and Netherlands have won twice, including the most recent match, the bronze medal match last year 3-2, after trailing 2-0.
• These teams have played eight matches at World Championships or Olympic Games against each other, with Russia winning all eight.
Russia• After losing five straight World Grand Prix matches, their longest ever streak in the competition, the Russians have booked consecutive victories on Friday and Saturday.
• Russia have won at least two sets in each of their last six World Grand Prix matches (W2-L4), since a straight set defeat against United States in last years semifinal.
• After the straight set win against Belgium, Russia can win back-to-back matches in straight sets. They last achieved this last year against Netherlands and Thailand.
• Irina Voronkova (14 points) led Russia in scoring in their 3-0 win over Belgium on Saturday. Irina Fetisova added five kill blocks.
Netherlands• Netherlands came back from a 2-0 set deficit to beat Dominican Republic 3-2 on Saturday. The last time they erased a two-set deficit was in the bronze medal game of last year’s campaign, against Russia.
• Netherlands have now won four of their five World Grand Prix matches in 2017.
• Netherlands also won four of their last five World Grand Prix five-setters.
• Netherlands have won at least two sets in each of their last six World Grand Prix matches (W5-L1).
• Anne Buijs led Netherlands with 31 points against Dominican Republic. Celeste Plak, the Dutch top scorer in the 2017 tournament, added 16 points.