Varna, Bulgaria, September 13, 2018 - Defending champions Poland take on Puerto Rico, Thursday, looking for their second win in the 2018 FIVB World Championship after beating Cuba 3-1 on Wednesday. It is the second time Puerto Rico and Poland meet in a World Championship, after their 2006 encounter in Saitama which the Europeans won in straight sets.
Head-to-Head
• Puerto Rico and Poland have played each other at the World Championship on one previous occasion. The Poles won in straight sets in Saitama in 2006 (first round).
• Poland won all four matches against Puerto Rico in the 2011 World League, dropping only one set in those four victories.
• Poland beat Puerto Rico in straight sets in Espinho on their way to qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Puerto Rico
• Puerto Rico started their World Championship with a 3-0 defeat against Iran.
• In 2014, Puerto Rico lost their first three World Championship matches, all in straight sets, before they collected their only win of the tournament, 3-1 against Italy.
• Puerto Rico will play their 75th world level major tournament match. They won 16 of their previous 74, losing 58.
• World level major competitions are: World Championships, Olympic Games, World Cup, World League, Grand Champions Cup and the Nations League.
• Maurice Torres was the only Puerto Rico player reaching double figures against Iran, combining for 10 points.
Poland
• Defending champions Poland left off with a victory against Cuba in their first match (3-1).
• Poland have now won their opening match in each of the last five editions of the World Championship, since they began the 1998 tournament with a straight-set defeat against Cuba. Poland won their first five matches in 2014.
• Poland have now won eight straight World Championship matches, their longest run since 11 in a row in 2002 and 2006 combined.
• Artur Szalpuk reached 20 points against Cuba (17 spikes, a kill block and 2 aces), most for his team.