MATCH NOTES
• First ever meeting between the two teams
• With the exception of the Canada team that split before this event, GER is the only team here that did not compete in the Rio Olympics
• GER has a 59-24 match record this year, including 33-9 in pool play and 18-11 in three-set matches
• GER began the year winning 18 of its first 21 pool play matches but since then has gone 15-6
• ITA has a 1-4 match record this season, including 1-3 in pool play and 0-2 in three-set matches