Nagoya, Japan, October 16, 2018 - Tijana Boskovic scored a match-high 29 points as Serbia beat Italy 3-1 (25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 25-23) in the third round at the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship on Tuesday.
Milena Rasic had 15 points in the victory, with Stefana Veljkovic adding 10.
Paola Egonu was the highest scorer for Italy with 28 points in the loss.
Italy entered the match with a 10-0 record, while Serbia was 8-2.
The contest was highlighted by quick attacks from both teams and featured few rallies of note.
Italy looked listless in the first two sets, coming off their dramatic five-set win over Japan on Monday night, before coming on in the third set.
The fourth set was a close battle until Serbia moved ahead late in the set and held on.
Serbia excelled on attack and block in the win and also received well.
Boskovic gave Serbia a 6-4 lead with a spike in the first set. Serbia was up 8-7 at the first TTO after Cristina Chirichella fired a serve long. Italy tied it 12-12 on a spike by Elena Pietrini. Italy led 16-14 at the second TTO after Ogechi crushed a spike. Serbia surged ahead on attack and Boskovic made it 22-17. Anna Danesi delivered an ace for Italy to make it 24-22 and Serbia called timeout. Serbia took the set 25-21 when an Italy serve went long. Boskovic scored 8 points in the first set.
Serbia kept up the pressure on attack in the second set and was up 8-6 at the first TTO after a spike by Veljkovic. A block by Danesi made it 10-10. A soft tap by Veljkovic saw Serbia lead 15-12. Rasic rose up for a spike from the wing and Serbia's lead was 20-15. Maja Ognjenovic's ace put Serbia within two points of the set at 23-15. Rasic ended it 25-19 with a spike.
Elena Pietrini fired an ace as Italy took a 7-5 lead in the third set. A block by Danesi put Italy up 13-11. Italy was scoring from both the middle and the wing in the set and blocking well. A Boskovic spike sailed long and Italy was in front 20-16. Serbia shaved off three set points before Italy claimed the set 25-23 on a spike by Egonu.
A Boskovic spike gave Serbia a 7-5 lead in the fourth set. Italy scored three straight points to lead 8-5 at the first TTO. Boskovic fought off a block to score with a push and Serbia led 11-10. Italy came back and was up 16-14 at the second TTO. Mihajlovic equalized at 17-17 with a spike. Two blocks by Rasic moved Serbia ahead 19-17. Boskovic came up with a big block on Pietrini and Serbia was up 22-20. Boskovic ended it 25-22 with a spike.