Tokyo, Japan, May 14, 2016 - Two of the teams winning their matches on the first day of the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan - Italy and Thailand - will open the competition on Sunday.
Head-to-head• Italy and Thailand previously met at a World Olympic Qualification tournament in 2004. Italy won in straight sets.
• The last three meetings between these teams at world level tournaments all came at the World Grand Prix. Italy won all of these meetings, 3-2 in 2011 and 3-0 in both 2013 and 2014.
• Italy have won six of their last eight World Olympic Qualification matches against AVC sides. Their two defeats in this streak both came in a five-setter.
Italy
• Italy won their first match against Korea 3-1.
• Italy can win their first two matches at a World Olympic Qualification tournament for the first time since 2000 when they defeated Netherlands (3-2) and Korea (3-0).
• Italy are now unbeaten in their last four matches at a World Olympic Qualification tournament (2004-2016). In 2000, they won the first five matches.
• Monica De Gennaro had 17 digs in the first match, most of all teams after the first match round.
Thailand
• Thailand won the opening match of a World Olympic Qualification tournament for the first time, defeating Dominican Republic 3-1.
• In their previous three World Olympic Qualification tournaments in 2004, 2008 and 2012 Thailand had lost all their opening matches.
• Thailand also won their last match against Cuba in 2012 at the World Olympic Qualification tournament and they can win three in a row for the first time.
• Thailand were handed 35 points thanks to errors by Dominican Republic.
• Ajcharaporn Kongyot scored 18 points against Dominican Republic, including a team high 15 spikes.