Italy maintains their perfect record, while Serbia, even with Boskovic, struggles to secure a second victory.
In a commanding display, defending champions and reigning Olympic gold medalists Italy extended their undefeated run in this year`s women`s Volleyball Nations League. They swept aside current world champions Serbia in straight sets during their match in Apeldoorn on Thursday. With an impressive 10-0 win-loss record and 28 points, Italy has already secured their spot in the VNL Finals in Lodz. Conversely, Serbia finds itself in a precarious position, ranking 16th with only one win and eight points, facing a significant threat of relegation.
Match Analysis
The encounter between these two southern European powerhouses was fiercely contested. However, Italy expertly capitalized on the numerous unforced errors made by the Serbian side to clinch the match decisively in straight sets (25-17, 26-24, 25-20).
Italian star opposite Paola Egonu set the tone, leading her team to a dominant first-set victory. The second set proved to be the most intense, with Serbia establishing a lead of up to four points at times. Yet, Italy displayed remarkable resilience, earning their first set point and converting the second to take a commanding 2-0 lead. In the final set, Serbia mounted a strong comeback from a five-point deficit, only to see Italy pull away once more, securing the set by a five-point margin and closing out the match.
Key Player Performances
Paola Egonu, despite sharing playing time with 22-year-old back-up opposite Ekaterina Antropova, emerged as the match`s top scorer. She contributed 17 points, all from attacks, boasting an impressive 59% success rate. Antropova herself was highly effective, adding nine points, including one kill block, with a 73% success rate.
For Serbia, captain Tijana Boskovic led her squad with 14 attack points, while 20-year-old outside hitter Vanja Ivanovic chipped in with 11 points, including two aces.
“We are always very excited to play every match. I think it is really important to keep the consistency and stay in the game. Today we had some difficulties, but it is important that we came out with a 3-0 victory and we are happy about it.”
The next VNL match in Apeldoorn is a neighborly derby between Belgium and hosts Netherlands, scheduled to serve off at 20:30 local time (18:30 UTC).
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick