VOLLEYBALL: Serbia claims first-ever Women’s Worlds crown

FIVB Women's World Champions: Serbia (Photo: FIVB)

Serbia’s women showed they belonged in the top echelon of world volleyball in Rio in 2016 with a silver medal. At the FIVB Women’s World Championships in Japan, the ascended to the top step with a thrilling 3-2 win over Italy to claim their first-ever world title.

The Serb attack was led by hitter Tijana Boskovic, later named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, who scored 26 points to lead her team back from a 2-1 deficit and win the last two sets: 21-25, 25-14, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12.

Played in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Yokohama Arena, in Yokohama (JPN), the final match scores included:

∙ 19 October: Semifinals:
Serbia 3, Netherlands 1
Italy 3, China 2

∙ 20 October:
5th place: United States 3, Japan 1
3rd place: China 3, Netherlands 0
1st place: Serbia 3, Italy 2

Italy was trying for its second title, after winning in 2002; Serbia (as Serbia and Montenegro) won a bronze in 2006, it’s only World Championships medal until now. The final standings:

1. Serbia
2. Italy
3. China
4. Netherlands
5. United States
6. Japan
7. Brazil
8. Russia
9. Dominican Republic
10. Turkey
11. Germany
12. Bulgaria
13. Thailand
14. Puerto Rico
15. Azerbaijan
16. Mexico
17. Korea
18. Canada
19. Argentina
20. Kenya
21. Cameroon
22. Cuba
23. Trinidad & Tobago
24. Kazakhstan

The tournament all-star team included:

Outside hitters: Miryam Sylla (ITA) and Ting Zhu (CHN)
Middle blockers: Yan Ni (CHN) and Milena Rasic (SRB)
Opposite: Paola Egonu (ITA)
Setter: Ofelia Malinov (ITA)
Libero: Monica De Gennaro (ITA)
Most Valuable: Tijana Boskovic (SRB)

Egonu finished as the tournament’s leading scorer by far, piling up 324 points (275 kills, by far the most in the event), followed by Lonneke Sloetjes (NED: 276), Zhu (CHN: 227), Boskovic (SRB: 193) and Sarina Koga (JPN: 171). The top U.S. scorers were Jordan Larson (134) and Kim Hill (134), who ranked 11th an 12th overall.

You can review the final scores and standings here.