First Win in Italy

The Serbian women’s national volleyball team finally tasted victory at the preparatory tournament in Genoa, overcoming a tough Turkish side to end their three-match stint on a high note. After suffering defeats against Italy (2-3) and Poland (0-3), the squad delivered a convincing 3-1 performance against Turkey, taking the sets 23-25, 25-19, 25-18, and 25-22.

Although neither side fielded their absolute strongest lineups, the encounter highlighted the intense rivalry between the two Balkan neighbors. For Serbia, this win served as a crucial confidence booster ahead of the upcoming season, proving they can compete at a high level even with a rotated roster.

Uzelac’s Dominant Display

Aleksandra Uzelac continued her stellar form, cementing her status as one of the key players for the national team this summer. The powerhouse hitter finished the match with an impressive 26 points, showcasing a well-rounded performance that included efficient attacking, two blocks, three aces, and a highly reliable serve reception.

Anja Zubić also demonstrated significant improvement, increasingly positioning herself as a viable option for the second setter role behind Tijana Bošković. She contributed 15 points to the effort. Captain Maja Aleksić added 12 points, while Hena Kurtagić scored 11. Vanja Ivanović chipped in with 10, Branka Tića six, and Slađana Mirković four.

Return to Belgrade

In the back row, libero Bojana Gočanin was a standout, recording 48 successful receptions with only three errors. For Turkey, Japrak Erkek led the scoring with 18 points.

The victory secured third place for Serbia at the Genoa tournament. The team will depart Italy on Monday and head back to Belgrade to resume training. Their focus now shifts entirely to the forthcoming Volleyball Nations League, where they will aim to build on the momentum generated in Italy.