The 2026 FIVB Volleyball Nations League delivered a classic encounter on June 18 as Italy Women edged out Serbia Women in a gripping five-set battle (25–23, 22–25, 25–27, 25–20, 15–13) in front of a packed arena. The reigning European champions showed resilience to overcome a fierce Serbian side led by star opposite Tijana Bošković, keeping their Nations League finals hopes firmly alive.

Match Overview

From the first whistle, both teams displayed why they are perennial contenders on the world stage. Italy, powered by Paola Egonu’s explosive hitting and a disciplined block, took an early lead but saw Serbia fight back through Bošković’s unstoppable serves and the steady setting of Maja Ognjenović. The match swung back and forth, with each set decided by razor-thin margins until Italy’s composure in the deciding tiebreak sealed the 3–2 victory.

Key Moments

• Set 1 (25–23): Italy edged ahead with a late 3–0 run. Egonu’s back-court attack and a monster block from Anna Danesi broke a 22–22 deadlock.
• Set 2 (22–25): Serbia responded behind Bošković’s seven kills and two aces. The Serbs controlled the net and forced an Italian timeout down 18–22.
• Set 3 (25–27): The longest set of the night saw Serbia save two set points before converting their third. Bošković unloaded from the right side, recording eight points in the set.
• Set 4 (25–20): Italy adjusted defensively, with libero Monica De Gennaro digging everything. A 7–1 run midway through gave Italy a commanding lead.
• Set 5 (15–13): Tied at 12–12, Egonu smashed a cross-court kill followed by a Serb error. Match point came from a perfectly timed triple block.

Tactical Story

Italy’s head coach Julio Velasco opted for a two-setter rotation to keep Serbia’s block guessing, while Serbia relied on Ognjenović’s quick distribution to their middle blockers. The key difference came in receiving—Italy’s serve-receive held up under pressure, whereas Serbia struggled against Egonu’s jump serves in the fourth and fifth sets. Italy also dominated the block (14–9), with Sarah Fahr contributing five rejections.

Standout Performers

• Paola Egonu (Italy): 32 points (28 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks). The MVP candidate delivered in crunch time, scoring five of Italy’s last seven points in the decider.
• Tijana Bošković (Serbia): 30 points (26 kills, 3 aces, 1 block). The Serbian captain was unstoppable from the right side but didn’t get enough support from her teammates in the latter stages.
• Anna Danesi (Italy): 4 blocks and 12 kills at an excellent 60% attack efficiency. Her presence in the middle disrupted Serbia’s tempo.
• Maja Ognjenović (Serbia): 48 assists and three kills. The veteran setter kept her offense unpredictable but lacked consistency in serve-receive coverage.

Impact on the Nations League Standings

The victory moved Italy to 8–2 in the preliminary round, solidifying their place in the top four and strengthening their bid for a Finals berth. Serbia dropped to 6–4 and now face a must-win stretch against Japan and Brazil to avoid a tiebreak scramble. The result also closed the head‑to‑head gap between these two volleyball powerhouses—Italy now leads 23–22 in all official matches since 2015.