In a dramatic five-set encounter that lived up to the highest expectations of the Nations League Women tournament, Poland Women edged out Serbia Women 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-27, 25-22, 15-13) on June 5, 2026. The marathon match in Belgrade saw the home side fight back from a 2-1 deficit before Poland's composure in the deciding set secured a vital away win.

Match Overview

The clash between two of Europe's volleyball powerhouses delivered gripping volleyball from the first whistle. Serbia, playing in front of a passionate home crowd at the Aleksandar Nikolić Hall, started strongly by taking the opening set 25-23. However, Poland's resilience quickly surfaced. The visitors leveled the match with a solid 25-23 win in the second, only for Serbia to reclaim the lead with a 27-25 third-set victory. Undeterred, Poland stormed back in the fourth set, winning 25-22 to force a decisive fifth set, where they ultimately prevailed 15-13.

Key Moments

• First set (25-23 Serbia): Serbia used a 4-0 run midway through to build a comfortable lead, holding off a late Polish rally behind Tijana Bošković's powerful hitting.
• Third set (27-25 Serbia): The most hotly contested set of the night. Poland saved two set points before a Bošković kill and a block from Jovana Stevanović sealed it.
• Fifth set (15-13 Poland): Poland trailed 8-6 at the changeover but went on a 5-1 run, capped by a spectacular spike from Magdalena Stysiak, to reach match point. Serbia saved one point before a service error ended the contest.

Tactical Story

Serbia leaned heavily on their star opposite Tijana Bošković, who finished as the match's top scorer. Poland responded by employing a relentless blocking scheme, particularly in the middle of the net, neutralizing Serbia's outside attackers. Poland's own offensive balance was key: while Malwina Smarzek delivered from the right, middle blocker Agnieszka Kąkolewska chipped in with crucial kills in the tight fourth and fifth sets. Serbia's serving pressure dropped in the final two sets, allowing Poland to run their fast-tempo offense effectively.

Standout Players

• Magdalena Stysiak (Poland): The opposite hitter scored 28 points, including two decisive aces in the fifth set. Her calmness under pressure was pivotal.
• Tijana Bošković (Serbia): Dominated with 32 points, but her error count (10) proved costly in the closing stages.
• Joanna Wołosz (Poland): Masterfully distributed the ball, recording 46 assists and three blocks, earning the player of the match award.

Impact on Nations League Standings

The win lifted Poland to third place in the Nations League Women standings with 13 points from five matches, while Serbia slipped to fifth despite having the same number of points. The result also ended Serbia's three-match winning streak. Both teams are strong contenders for the Final Six, and such a hard-fought victory could give Poland crucial momentum heading into the next round of fixtures.

This pulsating Serbia vs Poland encounter will be remembered as one of the tournament's early highlights, showcasing the depth and drama of elite women's volleyball on the global stage.