Serbia W vs Netherlands W

Set 1 (25-23): The tightest set of the night swung on late defensive grit. Serbia trailed 21-20 before libero Yildirim and opposite Uzelac combined on a scrambling rally that culminated in a cross-court kill from captain Mihajlovic off the block. Serbia closed on a 5-2 run to take the set, with Mirkovic's disguised slide set to the middle creating the decisive momentum.

Set 2 (25-19): Serbia's block elevated in the second. Uzelac and Ozelats rejected Daalderop and Jasper at crucial junctures, turning a 14-13 edge into a 21-15 lead. Serbia's serving pressure — led by Bjelica — forced the Netherlands into poor transition opportunities. Uzelac finished the set with a sharp-angled cross-court attack.

Set 3 (25-15): Serbia dominated from the first whistle. Uzelac timed a monster solo block on Knollema to open a 9-5 gap, and the Netherlands never recovered. Substitute Boskovic injected pace, and the home side's block-out system consistently neutralised Dutch attacks. Bjelica sealed the match with an ace, sending the Belgrade crowd into celebration.

Yildirim's read-and-recovery dig in the opening set — picking up a de Kruijf tip that looked destined for the floor — kept a rally alive that Mihajlovic finished off the block. It gave Serbia a 23-22 lead in a set the Netherlands had led 21-19. From that moment, the hosts never trailed again across the remaining two sets.

• Vanja Uzelac (Serbia W): The 23-year-old opposite was Serbia's primary offensive weapon, scoring consistently from the right side and adding two crucial solo blocks. She was the match's standout attacker, repeatedly finding the floor through and around the Dutch block.
• Ana Bjelica (Serbia W): Bjelica's jump serve troubled the Dutch reception all night. She finished with multiple aces, including the match-clinching serve in set three, and added steady defence from the right-back position.
• Sara Mirkovic (Serbia W): The setter orchestrated a balanced attack, distributing to Uzelac, the middle hitters, and the left side with variety. Her disguised slide sets and centre dumps kept the Dutch block guessing.
• Maret Jasper (Netherlands W): The veteran opposite was the most consistent Dutch attacker, finding the corner on multiple occasions and playing smart off-speed shots when the Serbian block closed in.

Player of the Match: Vanja Uzelac (Serbia W)

Serbia's 3-0 scoreline (25-23, 25-19, 25-15) reflects a match that grew progressively one-sided. The first set was a genuine contest — Serbia edged it by just two points, with the set score 25-23 suggesting a 51-49 point split in a high-level exchange. But the Netherlands faded: Serbia's point margin grew to six in set two and ten in set three. The 25-15 third set was Serbia's most dominant set of the entire VNL 2026 preliminary round, underscoring the hosts' emotional lift on home soil.

Serbia's 11-8 head-to-head advantage over the Netherlands (now 20 meetings since 2012) was extended, and this was their first win over the Dutch in 2026 — the Netherlands had won the earlier VNL meeting in Fukuoka 3-1 on 12 June.

This was the final preliminary-round match for both teams. Serbia finished 13th in the 18-team VNL 2026 standings, outside the top-eight qualification for the VNL Finals (22-26 July). The Netherlands ended the preliminary phase in 8th place, securing their spot in the Finals knockout stage. Serbia will next be in action at the 2026 FIVB World Championship later this year; the Netherlands head to the VNL Finals in late July.

Serbia's performance was a fitting farewell to their home fans — tactically sharp, defensively committed, and driven by the emotional energy of a Belgrade send-off. The Netherlands, despite a strong preliminary campaign overall, lacked the intensity to match a fired-up Serbian side that had nothing to lose. Uzelac's emergence as a go-to attacker was the night's biggest takeaway.