Dallas, USA, June 30, 2016 - Australia and Russia will open the FIVB Volleyball World League 2016 Group 1 tournament in USA. The Volleyroos are desperate to achieve their first win in an attempt to avoid relegation, while Russia are in a must-win situation if they strive to qualify for the finals in Poland.
Head-to-Head
• Russia have a perfect record against Australia in the World League, with four wins out of four meetings.
• The last time these teams met in the World League was in 1999, when Russia beat Australia four times in the Intercontinental Round.
• Russia and Australia most recently clashed at the 2015 World Cup, when Russia won in straight sets.
Australia
• Australia have yet to win their first match at the 2016 World League (L6).
• Australia have lost 12 of their last 13 World League matches and are winless in their last six since a 3-2 win over Serbia in their final match of last year's edition.
• Australia can lose seven World League matches in a row for the second time after a 14-match losing streak between 1999 and 2014, a run that included four defeats against Russia.
• Australia's next win will be their 10th victory in the World League.
• Paul Carroll is Australia's top scorer this World League campaign with 75 points (70 spikes).
Russia
• Russia have recorded three wins and three defeats in the 2016 World League. All their three defeats came in straight sets.
• The last time Russia lost two World League matches in a row, both by a 3-0 scoreline, was in May 1997 (against Cuba).
• Only one of Russia's last 16 World League matches ended in five sets, as they lost 3-2 to Poland on 20 June 2015.
• Dmitriy Muserskiy (63) and Egor Kliuka (62) are Russia's top scorers at the 2016 World League.