EuroVolleyW: Serbia and Russia clash in a duel of the Titans

Serbia and Russia are ready to enter the Stark Arena, in Belgrade, on Wednesday, for arguably the most anticipated pool play match of the CEV EuroVolley 2021 Women, the only reuniting two teams that competed at the Tokyo Olympics earlier this month. Seven other matches are set to happen in the penultimate day of group stage.

The hosts of Pool A, reigning EuroVolley champions and Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medalists Serbia have been living up to the expectations so far. The team has been dominant, having won all of their first four matches in Belgrade without dropping a set, and are already guaranteed in the Eight Finals.

2019 MVP Tijana Boskovic has been in great form for the Serbians, averaging north on 20 points per match, to a total of 83 (the third-most in the entire tournament) so far. Setter Maja Ognjenovic, ranked first in the position’s efficiency ranking with 74.36%, and outside hitter Bojana Milenkovic, third in perfect receptions with 44%, are the other individual standouts of the team.

Russia, on the other hand, enters the penultimate day of competition in Belgrade dealing with a little bit of pressure after the team wasted a two-set lead and was overcame by Belgium on Monday. With two victories in three matches, it’s unlikely the EuroVolley record winners miss the elimination round, but they’re more likely to advance in third or fourth-place now and will, in theory, have a more difficult matchup in the Eight Finals.

The teams met earlier this season, during the Volleyball Nations League, in June, and the Russians came out on top with a straight-set victory