France Edge Serbia in Five-Set Thriller to Open World League Finals

The 2017 FIVB World League final round in Curitiba kicked off with a heart-stopping five-set encounter on July 7, as France squeezed past Serbia 3-2 (25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 21-25, 15-11). In a contest filled with lead changes, dramatic rallies, and edge-of-the-seat momentum swings, France prevailed with greater composure in the decisive set.

A Battle of Heavyweight Servers

Serbia, known for their physical serving and lethal left-side attacks, entered the match determined to cause an early upset. The first set was a seesaw affair, with aggressive serving from both teams creating a chaotic opening rhythm. France’s experience at the Olympic level paid dividends as they nudged ahead on a string of disciplined block touches. Serbia refused to fade, turning the second set into a showcase of their own firepower, thanks to strong hitting from the outside and airtight net defense.

The third set followed a similar pattern, but France’s ability to call on their dynamic attacking pair of Earvin Ngapeth and Kevin Tillie gave them a crucial edge. Serbia responded once more, forcing the match to a tie-break when they surged in the fourth set. Yet the decisive fifth set belonged to France, who rattled off a series of aces and sideout kills to take control early and never let Serbia back into the exchange.

Turning Point

The tiebreak proved the difference between class and courage. France’s serve earned them a run of four unanswered points, turning a 6-5 lead into a 10-5 gap. Serbia’s coach called two timeouts, but the French block—mistimed earlier in the night—finally found the right angles to suffocate the opposing attackers. The win gave France a perfect start and positioned them as immediate contenders in the group.

Player Spotlight

• Earvin Ngapeth dominated the highlight reel, recording a team-high in kills while also pulling off his signature net-defense tricks.
• Serbia’s Marko Ivovic kept his team alive with a series of clutch swings in the middle of the match.

For Serbia, the narrow defeat was a bitter pill, but their resilient display signaled that they would not be easy outs in the remainder of the tournament. For France, the late-night victory secured precious momentum and proved that this team had the nerve to go all the way.