Lausanne, Switzerland, July 26, 2017 - Korea and Germany go head-to-head for the 12th time in FIVB World Grand Prix history Saturday in Ostrava in the first of the Group 2 semifinals. Korea have won eight of their previous eleven encounters with Germany in the competition. The two sides meet for the second time this season, after Korea won in four sets in the opening weekend. Both finished pool play at 8-1, after losses in the first week - Korea to Bulgaria and Germany to Korea in the very first match, which means the Europeans are on an eight-match winning streak.
Head-to-Head
• Korea and Germany have met 11 times in the World Grand Prix, with Korea winning eight times and Germany three.
• Germany's last win came in 2012 in the preliminary round when they won in straight sets.
• Korea won the last two encounters between these teams at the World Grand Prix, both 3-1. Most recently they met in the opening weekend of the 2017 World Grand Prix.
Korea• Korea have won eight of their nine matches at the 2017 World Grand Prix. They only lost in five sets against Bulgaria in the opening weekend.
• Korea have won six of their last seven World Grand Prix matches in straight sets. In this run, Korea only dropped a set against Poland (3-1 win) on 16 July.
• Korea have won their last three World Grand Prix matches in straight sets and can record four 3-0 wins in a row for the first time ever in the competition.
• In the preliminary round, Yeum Hye Seon was the best server of Group 2 (0.55 per set).
• Kim Yeon Koung finished the preliminary round as Group 2 top scorer, scoring 147 points.
Germany• Germany have won their last eight World Grand Prix matches after losing their 2017 opener against Korea.
• The eight victories in a row are already a team-record in the competition for Germany.
• Germany have recorded eight wins in a single World Grand Prix for the first time, surpassing their team-record of seven set in 2002 and 2009.
• Germany have lost only one match with two matches to go. They have lost at least three in all their previous World Grand Prix participations, most recently in 2012.
• Germany have won the last 18 sets they played in the World Grand Prix since losing the opening set against Kazakhstan (3-1 win) on 14 July. They have won their last five matches all in straight sets.
• The five straight-set victories in a row are also a team-record for Germany in the competition.