World champions Serbia finally achieved their first win in the women`s Volleyball Nations League 2025. With the return of star opposite and captain Tijana Boskovic for the first time this season, they managed to turn their match against newcomers Czechia in Apeldoorn into a four-set victory.
This win propelled Serbia up two places from the 18th position, which was facing relegation. They are now 16th with a 1-8 win-loss record and 8 points, placing Korea (1-8, 4 points) at the bottom of the table. VNL newcomers Czechia are currently ninth with a 4-5 record and 10 points, just outside the qualification spots for the Finals in Lodz.
Tijana Boskovic celebrates Serbia’s first VNL 2025 win with her teammates.
Serbia took some time to find their form in the match. Czechia was dominant at the end of the first set to take the lead. They continued to fight hard in the subsequent sets and even squandered a double set point opportunity in the third, but Serbia ultimately secured the three points with a 3-1 victory (22-25, 25-22, 28-26, 25-18).
Tijana Boskovic contributed two kill blocks and 16 successful attacks, sharing the team`s top scorer honors with 20-year-old outside hitter Vanja Ivanovic, who recorded three blocks and 15 kills. Another 20-year-old Serbian outside hitter, Aleksandra Uzelac, scored 15 points, while middle blocker Maja Aleksic added 12 points, including the point that won the match.
For Czechia, experienced outside hitter Helena Grozer was the leading scorer with a match-high 21 points, while middle blocker Magdalena Jehlarova impressed with five kill blocks as part of her 15-point total.
“It was very exciting to be back with the team. It was our first win in this year’s VNL and we are happy, of course,” Boskovic told VBTV. “It was a really tough game, but I would like to give credit to my team for fighting. Today we struggled a little bit, especially in transition, but I hope in the next games we can show a better performance. But a win is a win. We will celebrate a little bit and then focus on tomorrow’s game.”
Other matches scheduled include Italy vs. Belgium in Apeldoorn and Germany vs. Canada in Arlington.
Jasper Thornfield