Serbia – Australia
The triumph moved Serbia to 4-0, while Australia fell to 3-1 with the loss.
Nikola Kovacevic and Sasa Starovic sparked Serbia with 13 points apiece in the win.
Igor Yudin led Australia with 12 points in the defeat.
It was a comprehensive performance by Serbia, which dominated in every facet of the game. Their attacks and blocks were particulary outstanding.
Australia had trouble dealing with the power game of the Serbs and was unable to mount a consistent attack. Australia also made several service errors.
A spike by Dragan Stankovic moved Serbia out to a 6-3 lead in the first set. Serbia led 8-4 at the first TTO. Serbia led 12-8 after Aden Tutton sent a serve into the net. A spike by Milos Nikic made it 15-10 for Serbia. Nikola Kovacevic soared for a spike down the middle and Serbia led 16-10 at the first TTO. Marko Podrascanin‘s spike made it 20-13 for Serbia. Aidan Zingel sent a spike long and Serbia was on top 22-15. A spike by Nikic made it set point at 24-17. Igor Yudin sent a spike long to give Serbia the set 25-18.
A service ace by Sasa Starovic gave Serbia a 5-4 lead in the second set. Kovacevic‘s spike made it 7-5. Edgar Thomas sent a serve long and Serbia was in front 8-7 at the first TTO. A spike by Nikic made it 10-8 for Serbia. Consecutive spikes by White pulled Australia within a point at 12-11. A dink by Yudin knotted the score at 14-14 and Serbia called a timeout. Serbia was up 16-15 at the second TTO. A return error by Australia made it 20-18 for Serbia. Yudin’s spike sailed long and Serbia had set point at 24-18. Kovacevic ended 25-19 with a spike.
Serbia established a 5-3 lead in the third set. A service ace by Podrascanin made it 7-3. Nikic‘s spike put Serbia in front 8-4 at the first TTO. Starovic‘s spike made it 11-6 for Serbia as they continued their momentum from the first two sets. Alexander Williams sailed a spike wide and Serbia opened up an eight-point margin at 16-8 at the second TTO. After Serbia went up 19-10, Australia ran off four straight points and the Serbs took a timeout. A block by Nikic gave Serbia a 20-14 lead. Australia sent a serve long and Serbia was two points from the match at 23-18. Williams fired a spike long and Serbia had match point at 24-18. Another Williams spike went long and Serbia clinched the match 25-18.
Australia battle Japan on Thursday, while Serbia meet Puerto Rico.
