Rome, Italy, June 25, 2016 - After losing to Italy in their first ever FIVB Volleyball World League encounter last week, Belgium will be looking for a different kind of outcome as they meet again at the Group 1 tournament in Rome.
Head-to-Head
• Last weekend was the first time Italy and Belgium played each other at the World League. Italy won 3-0.
• Italy's Luca Vettori scored a match-high 17 points. No other Italian player reached double scoring points in this match.
Italy
• Italy's all four matches in the 2016 World League have finished in straight sets: W3-L1.
• They can claim four successive straight-set wins for the first time this century. They last achieved this in 1999, when they beat Australia four matches in a row with a 3-0 scoreline.
• They can win four successive World League matches for the first time since a run of seven wins in 2013-2014.
• Luca Vettori is Italy's highest scorer with 51 points
• Simone Giannelli has an 8.3 average as setter.
Belgium
• Belgium have W-L-W-L their four matches in the 2016 World League and by that order they should win this match against Italy.
• The last time they suffered consecutive defeats was in their final three matches in the 2015 World League.
• Belgium's last two matches have been decided in a fifth set and they can now play three successive five-setters for the first time in the World League.
• Gert Van Walle has scored 73 points.
• Simon Van De Voorde has contributed 13 stuff blocks.