Italy, 10th win in a row: Serbia knocked out in three sets
Italy’s journey in the Volleyball Nations League continues unabated. After the victory at the debut in Pool 7 in Apeldoorn and consequent pass to the Finals detached, the Azzurri repeated themselves at the Omnisport Arena beating Serbia 3-0 (25-17; 26-24; 25-20) in the challenge valid for the second day of week 3 taking place in the Netherlands. An important result, the result of yet another high-level performance that delivers into the hands of captain Danesi and her teammates the tenth consecutive success in as many official matches played in 2025, which also means the 24th victory in a row opened in week 2 of VNL 2024 in Macau and then continued at the Paris Olympic Games and now in the VNL pools.
For the Italy-Serbia superclassic, the Azzurre start as they did with Belgium: Orro setter, Egonu opposite, Danesi and Fahr center, Sylla and Degradi setters and De Gennaro libero. On the other side, Terzic confirms the Mirkovic-Boskovic diagonal seen with the Czech Republic, as well as the middle hitters, Kurtacig-Aleksic, the middle hitters, Ivanovic-Uzelac, and the libero Jegdic. The Azzurri’s start is convincing: Fahr at center makes her presence felt, Sylla puts down a great wall, while Egonu on the diagonal and Degradi on serve pack the first break (5-2). The Serbs, however, counter-break immediately and with Ivanovic, Boskovic and a Mirkovic mural take an even 1 point lead (5-6). The Italian response comes vehemently and bears the signature of Egonu, Sylla and Danesi, peremptory at the wall on Boskovic (10-7). Egonu crashes down on the Serbian half-court conceding no escape with classy and powerful shots while on the other side the resistance of Terzic’s girls is entrusted to Uzelac and Ivanovic. Then, when Velasco played the double change with Cambi and Antropova for Egonu and Orro, Italy flew swiftly towards winning the first set with the partial score of 25-17.
After the break, the Serbs try to put pressure by posting a 0-3 lead accomplice to a good service turn by Kurtagic. The Azzurri reacted with an ace by Sylla and a full-arm parallel by Egonu but it was Serbia that held the reins of the set. Boskovic and Ivanovic continue to hammer while on the other side Italy clings to the defensive plays of De Gennaro to keep pace (10-12). Velasco gives Sylla a few moments of breathing room following a couple of errors and then it is Nervini’s turn to try to keep the Italian offense in balance. Boskovic and her teammates maintain a 3-point gap but on 13-16 a Mirkovic service error and an offensive invasion by Kurtagic put Italy back in the slipstream (15-16) forcing Terzic to a timeout. A move that paid dividends when an Egonu invasion and a winning attack by Uzelac put a little distance back between the two teams. Under the blows of Boskovic and Ivanovic, Italy faltered but at 16-20 found the strength to get powerfully back into the match thanks also to the double change. Antropova becomes irrepressible while the Serbs sin in reception and reconstruction conceding hooking and overtaking 24-23 by Antropova. Boskovic nullifies the first setball with an attack of her own but a wild Antropova gives the first advantage to the Azzurri (25-24) then transformed by Nervini in the attack that gives Italy the second set as well.
After the winning sprint, Italy gets off to a strong start in the third set. Egonu does her best from the 2 spot while Fahr’s performance in the center also rises. Ivanovic on the other side can no longer make an impact with only Boskovic putting pressure in attack. The Italians fly to 7-4 (Degradi’s ace) finding in Ivanovic the reaction that brings Serbia back in touch. The Balkan setter finds a touch attack and then an ace (7-6). Italy, however, grinds out winning attacks with Egonu, Orro and Danesi putting a Serbia on the ropes then almost forced to surrender by a couple of nice plays by Nervini (15-11). The spurt, however, does not become a breakaway when Kurtagic at the wall and Boskovic in attack put Serbia back in the game (16-16) with Velasco fielding Cambi and Antropova in search of fresh forces. Move that generates new enthusiasm, enthusiasm that makes Italy re-fly toward the final goal cut with the decisive 25-20.
