World champions Serbia`s women`s national volleyball team concluded a challenging 2025 Volleyball Nations League preliminary phase with a decisive 3-0 victory (25-18, 25-20, 25-18) over European champions Türkiye. This commanding performance in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, marked a remarkable turnaround for the Serbian squad, who faced genuine relegation concerns entering the final week. Ultimately, they secured their place and finished the phase on a significant high note, offering positive expectations for the upcoming FIVB Women`s Volleyball World Championship.
From Relegation Risk to Resurgence
The journey through the VNL 2025 preliminary rounds was far from smooth for Serbia. After failing to secure a single win in the first two weeks (eight consecutive losses), the team arrived in Apeldoorn staring down the barrel of relegation. However, under the guidance of star opposite Tijana Bošković, who joined the team for this crucial final leg, Serbia found their rhythm. They clinched three vital victories in their four matches this week, accumulating 14 points and climbing to 15th place, safely clear of the danger zone.
The victory against Türkiye was arguably the most impressive, a clean sweep against a formidable opponent bound for the VNL Finals. Bošković, stepping back into her role as captain and offensive leader, delivered a match-high 21 points, proving once again her invaluable presence. Outside hitter Vanja Ivanović provided excellent support with 15 points, contributing significantly to the team`s offensive power.
Reflecting on the dramatic shift in fortunes, Bošković expressed immense satisfaction. “I`m very happy and proud of how the team played this week,” she stated. “I think we improved every match, and today we showed what we can do.” She acknowledged the early struggles but praised the team`s fight and potential. “Even if we lost all eight matches [earlier], I was proud of how the team fought. We have a young team with a lot of potential, and I feel that we couldn`t have finished the VNL in a better way than we did today.” This performance provides a significant boost of confidence looking towards the upcoming World Championship, where Serbia aims for a third consecutive title – a task made slightly less daunting after proving they can still perform at the top level.
Türkiye Looks Ahead to the Finals
For Türkiye, the reigning European champions and a team heading to the VNL Finals in Łódź, Poland (July 23-27), the match against Serbia was the final tune-up of the preliminary phase. Despite the loss, they finished the phase in fifth place with eight wins and 23 points, though their final ranking could still shift depending on other results.
The week in Apeldoorn saw the Turkish side experience some inconsistency, notably a defeat to Czechia before a strong rebound against Italy. Outside hitter Yaprak Erkek led their scoring against Serbia with ten points, closely followed by opposite Melissa Vargas with nine.
Meliha Diken, an outside hitter for Türkiye, commented on the team`s performance in the final week. “We had too many ups and downs this week, especially with our defeat to Czechia,” she remarked. “I was very proud of how we reacted to that loss yesterday against Italy, but today we didn`t have the same energy, and Serbia played really well. We know what we need to work on for the Finals, and that`s what we`ll do.” Their focus now shifts entirely to preparing for the knockout stage in Poland.
Final Day Results Across the Boards
The final day of the preliminary phase saw other matches wrap up in both Apeldoorn and Arlington, USA. In Apeldoorn, Belgium overcame Czechia with a 3-1 scoreline, while Italy maintained their impressive form with a 3-0 shutout victory against the Netherlands, sweeping their matches in the final week.
Meanwhile, in Arlington, Germany ended their preliminary campaign positively, defeating the Dominican Republic 3-1. Germany, also qualified for the Finals, currently sits seventh, while the Dominican Republic finished their VNL run in 12th place. The German victory was highlighted by a truly exceptional defensive performance from middle blocker Anastasia Cekulaev, who registered a staggering ten blocks – a significant contribution that certainly cramped the Dominican Republic`s style. Top offensive contributors for Germany included Emilia Weske (21 points) and Lina Alsmeier (20 points). For the Dominicans, Gaila Gonzalez led with 15 points.
The VNL 2025 preliminary phase concluded later with two more matches in Arlington: Thailand faced Canada, and the host United States played against China, finalizing the standings for the VNL Finals participants.
With the preliminary phase now complete, teams like Türkiye and Germany will shift their focus entirely to the VNL Finals in Poland. For Serbia, while not qualifying for the Finals, the impressive conclusion to their VNL campaign provides crucial momentum and confidence as they turn their attention towards defending their World Championship title. It seems finishing strong, even after a rough start, is the best medicine for champions.
