Shreveport-Bossier City, USA, August 4, 2019 – The United States defeated Argentina in straight sets 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-13) to claim their ticket for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games from Tokyo Volleyball Qualification Pool C on Sunday.
The USA squad held solo leadership of their pool and a victory in their final match against Argentina sealed their spot in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
United States - Argentina (August 4, 2019)
Head-to-Head
• United States and Argentina meet for the first time in the last seven world Olympic qualifying campaigns (1996-2020).
• United States (W8-L0) are unbeaten in their encounters with Argentina at major world level (Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix, Nations League, Grand Champions Cup).
• Argentina failed to claim a single set in each of their eight world level matches against United States.
United States
• United States came back from 2-1 behind to beat Bulgaria on Saturday, their second win in this qualifying group.
• United States could qualify for their 12th Olympic Games. They won silver in 1984, 2008 and 2012 and took bronze in 1992 and 2016.
• Of USA's five players who reached double figures in scoring against Bulgaria, Jordan Larson (23 points), Jordan Robinson (19) and Kimberly Hill (17) had the most.
• Haleigh Washington recorded four stuff blocks against Bulgaria, Jordan Larson and Tetori Dixon three.
Argentina
• Argentina lost the first set against Kazakhstan but rebounded for a 3-1 win on Saturday. A day earlier it was the other way around, when they won the first set and lost 3-1 against Bulgaria.
• At the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Argentina appeared for the first time at the Olympic Games. They finished in joint-ninth place alongside Italy.
• Lucia Fresco (21) was outright top scorer in the match between Argentina and Kazakhstan. Fresco is also Argentina's top scorer in this qualifying group, with 34 total points.
• On Saturday, Paula Yamila Nizetich and Victoria Mayer had four serve winners each, as many as all Kazakhstan players combined (4).
Kazakhstan – Bulgaria (August 4, 2019)
Head-to-Head
• Kazakhstan and Bulgaria meet for the first time in the last seven world Olympic qualifying campaigns (1996-2020).
• Bulgaria won all three of their meetings with Kazakhstan in major world level tournaments (Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, World Grand Prix, Nations League, Grand Champions Cup).
• Bulgaria won 3-1 in the 2014 World Grand Prix, 3-0 at the 2014 World Championship and 3-0 in the 2017 World Grand Prix.
Kazakhstan
• Kazakhstan are out of contention in this qualifying campaign after defeats against United States (3-0) and Argentina (3-1).
• Kazakhstan's only Olympic Games have been Beijing 2008, when they finished in joint-ninth place alongside Poland.
• Kazakhstan won only two of their last 16 matches in a world Olympic qualification tournament, both in 2008: 3-0 against Republic of Korea and 3-1 versus Thailand.
• Sana Anarkulova (15) and Kristina Anikonova (10) reached double figures in scoring for Kazakhstan against Argentina on Saturday.
• Anarkulova produced three of Kazakhstan's four aces against Argentina, Anikonova five of their 10 stuff blocks.
Bulgaria
• Bulgaria beat Argentina 3-1 and lost to United States in five sets in their qualifying group.
• Bulgaria competed at one Olympic Games, in Moscow in 1980, when they claimed the bronze medal.
• Elitsa Vasileva was outright top scorer in the match between Bulgaria and Argentina on Friday (18 points) and in the match between Bulgaria and United States on Saturday (24).
• Mira Todorova had three of Bulgaria's six stuff blocks against United States.