Pool E: Italy – Azerbaijan
Head-to-head
• Both teams never met at the World Championship but clashed four times at the European Championship: 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011. Italy won all four European Championship matches, losing only one set.
• Italy are unbeaten in their last five world championship matches against fellow European sides.
• Azerbaijan are winless in their six meetings with teams from Europe at the World Championship.
Italy
• Italy lost against Dominican Republic last Sunday. This broke a six-match winning streak at the World Championship, their longest since winning eight straight in 2006.
• Italy can lose back-to-back matches at the World Championship for the first time since losing their last two first round matches in 2010.
• Italy have won at least two sets in each of their last 11 world championship matches, their outright longest streak in the competition.
Azerbaijan
• In their third World Championship appearance, Azerbaijan could already equal their best mark in terms on matches won. In 2006, they won four compared to three thus far in 2014.
• The Azeri have failed to win a set in their last three matches against CEV sides.
• Polina Rahimova is the current top scorer of this World Championship with 120 total points (100 spikes, 11 blocks, 9 serves).