2021 VNL - Women's Team Stats

Sixteen women's teams open their campaigns to win the 2021 FIVB Volleyball Nations League on Tuesday, with two-time competition winners USA the team to beat.

Read about the teams set to participate in this year's edition of the VNL below:

Belgium

· Belgium finished 13th (2018) and seventh (2019) in the Volleyball Nations League. Britt Herbots finished as Belgium's top scorer in both of those editions, on 213 points in 2018 and on 231 points in 2019.

· Belgium participated in the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix from 2014 to 2017, with their best result a sixth place on their debut in 2014.

· Nathalie Lemmens, Kaja Grobelna, Ilka Van de Vyver and Dominika Strumilo were part of Belgium's team in all six of their participations in the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League.

· Belgium competed in three FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championships: in 1956, 1978 and 2014. They finished joint-11th in the 2014 edition.

· In 2013, Belgium claimed bronze at the European Championship after defeating Serbia 3-2 in the final for third place. Earlier that year, the Belgians finished runners-up in the European League, losing 3-2 to Germany in the final.

Brazil

· Brazil finished runners-up in the 2019 Volleyball Nations League, losing the final 3-2 to United States. They came fourth in the 2018 edition. Tandara Caixeta (302) won the most points for Brazil in 2018, while Gabriela Braga Guimaraes (323) finished as the team's top scorer in 2019.

· Brazil won the World Grand Prix a record 12 times, including in four of the last five editions (2013, 2014, 2016, 2017). They also finished on a record 19 podiums in the competition.

· Carol was part of Brazil's team in each of their last six participations in the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League (2014-2019).

· Brazil won four medals at the Olympic Games. They won gold in 2008 and 2012 and claimed bronze in 1996 and 2000. They have qualified for the Games in Tokyo later this year.

· Brazil's best result in the World Championship is a runners-up finish in 1994, 2006 and 2010. They also took bronze in 2014.

· The Brazilians won the South American Championship a record 21 times, including in each of the last 13 editions (1995-2019).

Canada

· Canada participate in the Volleyball Nations League for the first time. The Canadians competed in the World Grand Prix on five occasions: in 2003 and from 2014 to 2017.

· Canada's best rank in the World Grand Prix was an 11th place in 2003.

· Danielle Smith and Jen Cross were part of Canada's team in each of their last four participations in the World Grand Prix (2014-2017).

· Canada competed in nine World Championships, with their best result an 11th place in both 1974 and 1982. They came 18th in the 2018 edition.

· In 2019, Canada finished third in the NORCECA Championship which marked their first podium in the competition in 20 years.

China

· China won bronze in both the 2018 and 2019 Volleyball Nations League. Zhu Ting (198) finished as China's top scorer in 2018, while Gong Xiangyu (212) won the most points for the team in 2019.

· China are one of two teams to have competed in each of the 25 editions of the World Grand Prix, alongside Japan. China won the title only once (undefeated in 2003), but picked up five silver and three bronze medals.

· Zhu Ting and Liu Xiaotong were part of China's team in each of their last seven participations in the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League.

· China are the reigning Olympic champions as they defeated Serbia 3-1 in the final in Rio in 2016. China also won Olympic gold in 1984 and 2004, claimed silver in 1996 and took bronze in 1988 and 2008. They have qualified for the Games in Tokyo later this year.

· China also won the title at the most recent FIVB Volleyball World Cup (2019) and FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup (2017).

· China finished on the podium in each of the last two editions of the World Championship: second in 2014 and third in 2018. They won the world title in 1982 and 1986.

Dominican Republic

· The Dominican Republic came 14th in the 2018 Volleyball Nations League and eighth in 2019. Brayelin Martinez won the most points for her team in both editions: 250 in 2018 and 258 in 2019.

· The Dominicans competed in the World Grand Prix on 14 occasions, from 2004 to 2017. In 2017, they equalled their best result in the competition: eighth in 2006 and 2010.

· Martinez was part of the Dominican Republic's team to compete in the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League from 2012 to 2019.

· Later this year, the Dominican Republic will compete in their third Olympic Games, after Athens 2004 (11th place) and London 2012 (5th place).

· The Dominican's best result in a major world level tournament is a third place at the 2009 Grand Champions Cup.

· The Dominican Republic are the reigning NORCECA champions (2019) and the reigning Pan American Games champions (2019).

Germany

· Germany finished 11th in the 2018 Volleyball Nations League and 10th in 2019. Louisa Lippmann finished as their top scorer in both editions: 224 points in 2018 and 231 in 2019.

· Germany competed 18 times in the World Grand Prix, with their best result a third place in both 2002 and 2009.

· Jana Franziska Poll and Lena Stigrot were part of Germany's team in each of their last six participations in the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League (2014-2019).

· Apart from their two bronze medals in the World Grand Prix, Germany's only other silverware in a major world level tournament is a silver medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games (as East Germany).

· Germany's best result in the World Championship is a fourth place in both 1974 and 1986 (both as East Germany).

Italy

· Italy finished sixth in the preliminary round in the 2018 Volleyball Nations League. They finished sixth in 2019, after having reached the final round that year. Paola Ogechi Egonu (180) finished as Italy's top scorer in 2018, while Elena Pietrini (243) won the most points for the team in 2019 (230 by Egonu).

· The Italians finished runners-up in the 2017 World Grand Prix, losing the final 3-2 to Brazil. This equalled their best result in the competition, also second in 2004 and 2005.

· Monica De Gennaro was part of Italy's team in each of the last eight editions of the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League.

· Italy's best four results in the World Championship came in the last five editions: champions in 2002, runners-up in 2018 and fourth places in both 2006 and 2014.

· Later this year, Italy will compete in their sixth (successive) Olympic Games. Their best result is a fifth place in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

· Italy won the World Cup in 2007 and 2011, and the Grand Champions Cup in 2009.

Japan

· Japan claimed a 10th and ninth place respectively in the 2018 and 2019 Volleyball Nations League. Ai Kurogo (158) won the most points for Japan in 2018 (157 by Yuki Ishii), while Ishii (193) finished as the team's top scorer in 2019.

· Japan are one of two teams to have competed in each of the 25 editions of the World Grand Prix, alongside China. Japan's only silverware in the competition is a silver medal in 2014 (in Tokyo).

· Ishii and Haruka Miyashita have been part of Japan's team in each of the last eight editions of the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League.

· Japan will compete at the Olympic Games later this year as the host nation. They won Olympic gold in 1964 (also in Tokyo) and 1976, silver in 1968 and 1972, and bronze in 1984 and 2012.

· Japan won medals at the World Championship (G3-S3-B1), World Cup (G1-S2-B0) and Grand Champions Cup (G0-S0-B2).

· Japan are the two-time reigning champions of the Asian Championship (2017, 2019).

Korea

· Korea finished 12th and 15th respectively in the 2018 and 2019 Volleyball Nations League. The team's top scorers in those editions were Kim Yeon Koung in 2018 (175) and Kim Heejin in 2019 (185).

· Korea competed in the World Grand Prix on 18 occasions, with their best result a third place in 1997.

· Kim Heejin, Kim Yeon Koung and Kim Su Ji were all part of Korea's last five participations in the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League.

· Korea will compete in the Olympic Games later this year. Their only Olympic silverware is a bronze medal in 1976.

· Korea won two bronze medals in the World Championship (1976, 1974) and two bronze medals in the World Cup (1973, 1977).

Netherlands

· Netherlands came 11th in the 2019 Volleyball Nations League, after a fifth place in the 2018 edition. Lonneke Slöetjes (239) won the most points for the Dutch in 2018, while Juliet Lohuis (125) achieved this in 2019.

· In 14 participations in the World Grand Prix, Netherlands finished on the podium twice: gold in 2007 and bronze in 2016.

· Kirsten Knip, Yvon Beliën, Celeste Plak, Robin de Kruijf, Myrthe Schoot, Anne Buijs and Laura Dijkema were all part of Netherlands' team in each of their last seven participations in the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League.

· Netherlands finished fourth at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, their best result in the Games. They recorded 3-1 defeats against China in the semi-finals and versus United States in the bronze-medal match.

· The Dutch also claimed their best World Championship result in the most recent edition, fourth in 2018. Netherlands lost 3-1 to Serbia in the semi-finals, before losing 3-0 to China in the match for third place.

Poland

· Malwina Smarzek finished as tournament top scorer in both the 2018 and 2019 Volleyball Nations League. She won 361 points in 2018 and 477 in 2019. Poland finished ninth and fifth respectively.

· Poland competed in the World Grand Prix ever since making their debut in 2004. Their best result is a sixth place in both 2007 and 2010.

· Agnieszka Kakolewska was part of Poland's team in each of the last eight editions of the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League.

· Poland claimed two Olympic medals, bronzes in 1964 and 1968. In the World Championship, the Poles grabbed three medals: silver in 1952, and bronze in 1956 and 1962.

· Poland won the European title twice, in 2003 and 2005. They came fourth in the 2019 edition.

Russia

· Russia finished in eighth place in the 2018 Volleyball Nations League and in 14th place in 2019. Irina Voronkova (210) won the most points for Russia in 2018, while Tatiana Ezhak (155) finished as Russia top scorer in 2019.

· Russia recorded 13 podium finishes in the World Grand Prix (G3-S6-B4), winning the title in 1997, 1999 and 2002.

· Irina Koroleva was part of Russia's team in each of their last seven participations in the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League.

· The Russians will compete at the Olympic Games later this year, but have to do so under the ROC name. The team's last Olympic silverware was a silver medal in 2004.

· Taking into account their years competing as Soviet Union, Russia have already won titles at the Olympic Games (record 4), World Championship (record 7), World Cup (1), World Grand Prix (3) and Grand Champions Cup (1).

· Russia have won a record 19 titles at the European Championship (13 as Soviet Union), most recently in 2015.

Serbia

· Serbia came 13th in the 2019 Volleyball Nations League, after a fifth place in the inaugural edition in 2018. Tijana Boskovic won a team-high 296 points in 2018, while Katarina Lazovic (146) finished as Serbia's top scorer in 2019.

· Serbia competed in the World Grand Prix ever since making their debut in 2011. Their best result is a third place, achieved in 2011, 2013 and 2017.

· Ana Bjelica was part of Serbia's team in each of the last eight editions of the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League.

· Later this year, Serbia will compete in their fourth (consecutive) Olympic Games. At the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, they finished runners-up to China (3-1 loss).

· Serbia are the reigning world champions (2018) and the two-time reigning European champions (2017, 2019).

Thailand

· Thailand finished in 15th and 12th place respectively in the 2018 and 2019 Volleyball Nations League. Ajcharaporn Kongyot was Thailand's leading points scorer in both editions: 187 points in 2018 and 143 in 2019.

· Thailand's best result in 15 World Grand Prix participations is a fourth place in 2012.

· Ajcharaporn Kongyot and Pornpun Guedpard were part of Thailand's team in each of the last eight editions of the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League.

· Thailand came 13th in the 2018 World Championship, equalling their best result in the competition (also 13th in 1998 and 2010).

· Thailand won a medal at the last two editions of the Asian Games (2014 bronze, 2018 silver) and at the last four editions of the Asian Championship (2013 gold, 2015 bronze, 2017 & 2019 silver).

Turkey

· Turkey finished runners-up to the United States (3-2 defeat in final) in the 2018 Volleyball Nations League and came fourth in the 2019 edition. In 2019, Ebrar Karakurt (365) finished second on the top scorer list, behind Poland's Malwina Smarzek (477). Meryem Boz (250) won the most points for Turkey in 2018.

· Turkey participated in the World Grand Prix in 2008 and from 2012 to 2017. Their best result is a third place in 2012.

· Kubra Caliskan was part of Turkey's team in each of the last seven editions of the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League.

· Later this year, Turkey will compete in their second Olympic Games, after finishing ninth at London 2012.

· Turkey finished runners-up at the most recent European Championship (2019), their fourth podium finish in the competition after 2003 (2nd), 2011 (3rd) and 2017 (3rd).

United States

· The United States won the previous two editions of the Volleyball Nations League. Michelle Bartsch-Hackley (270, fourth most) won the most points for USA in 2018, while Andrea Drews (312, fourth most) achieved this in 2019.

· USA won the World Grand Prix on six occasions, in 1995, 2001, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015. Only Brazil (12) also won the competition as many as six times.

· Bartsch-Hackley was part of team USA in each of the last five editions of the World Grand Prix/Volleyball Nations League.

· United States will compete at the Olympic Games later this year. They claimed five Olympic medals, but never the gold: silver in 1984, 2008 and 2012, and bronze in 1992 and 2016.

· USA won their only world title in 2014, after having claimed two silver and two bronze medals in the competition.