Mendoza, Argentina, May 28, 2019 - 2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations League Pool 2 hosts Argentina will take on competition newcomers Portugal in the second match in Mendoza on Friday. The day will begin with the encounter between Canada and Bulgaria.
Canada - Bulgaria (May 31, 2019)
Head-to-Head
· Canada and Bulgaria will meet for the second time in the Volleyball Nations League. Last year, Bulgaria won in straight sets in the preliminary round.
· Canada and Bulgaria have had 10 encounters at world level major tournaments, with both sides winning five times.
· World level major tournaments are Volleyball Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
· Their last encounter at a world level tournament was at the 2018 World Championship second round, with Canada prevailing in five sets.
· This match was the most recent match in a world level tournament for both Canada and Bulgaria. They were eliminated after the match, finishing second (Canada) and third (Bulgaria) behind USA in Pool G.
Canada
· Canada finished seventh in the inaugural edition of the Volleyball Nations League last year, just missing out on the final round.
· Canada's best result in a world level major tournament was a third place in the 2017 World League.
· Last year, Canada started their VNL campaign with a straight set loss against eventual champions Russia.
· Stephen Timothy Maar scored 165 points last year to become Canada's 2018 Volleyball Nations League top scorer.
Bulgaria
· Bulgaria finished 11th in the inaugural edition of the Volleyball Nations League last year.
· Bulgaria's best result in World League/Volleyball Nations League is a fourth place (1994, 2004, 2006, 2012, 2013).
· The last time Bulgaria claimed a medal in a world level major tournament was at the 2007 World Cup, finishing third.
· Last year, Bulgaria won their first VNL match in five sets against China.
· Nikolay Uchikov scored 169 points in the Volleyball Nations League last year, to become Bulgaria's top scorer in the competition.
· Svetoslav Gotsev was the best blocker in the preliminary round last year, with a total of 36 points of blocks (0.6 average per set).
Nicholas Hoag from Canada spikes the ball over Svetoslav Gotsev (L) and Boyan Yordanov (R) in the 2018 VNL.
Argentina - Portugal (May 31, 2019)
Head-to-Head
· Argentina have won each of their last 15 matches against Portugal at world level major tournaments, since a 3-2 defeat in the World League on 14 July 2002.
· World level major tournaments are: Volleyball Nations League, Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
· Prior to their 15-match losing run against Argentina, Portugal had won five of their first six major world level matches against Argentina.
· This will be the first meeting between these teams at a world level major tournament since 1 July 2012, when Argentina beat Portugal 3-2 in the World League.
Argentina
· Argentina will participate in the Volleyball Nations League/World League for the 21st time. Their best result to date was a fourth place in 2011.
· Last year, Argentina finished in 14th place, above only China (15th) and Republic of Korea (16th).
· Argentina finished their 2018 VNL campaign with successive victories: 3-1 against Australia and 3-0 against Brazil.
· Argentina could now win successive Volleyball Nations League/World League matches for the first time since June 2015, when they beat Bulgaria and Canada (twice).
· At the Volleyball Nations League last year, Argentina won only one of their seven matches against European opponents, a straight sets victory over Italy on 3 June.
Portugal
· Portugal return to the Volleyball Nations League/World League after one year of absence.
· It will be Portugal's 15th appearance in total. Their best result to date was a fifth place finish in 2005.
· Portugal have a 25% win percentage from their previous 162 Volleyball Nations League/World League matches (40 wins - 122 defeats).
· This will be Portugal's first Volleyball Nations League/World League match since 18 June 2017, when they were beaten 3-1 by Slovenia in group 2.
· Portugal have lost each of their last 17 Volleyball Nations League/World League matches against South American opponents, since a 3-0 victory over Venezuela on 24 June 2005.
Quick links - Volleyball:
FIVB.com - Volleyball Nations League
FIVB.com - Volleyball
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram