Serbia and Russia draw 2-2 in women's volleyball friendly

Serbia and Russia finished 2-2 in a closed women's volleyball friendly. The teams played four agreed sets during a 99-minute preparation match.

Serbia won the first and third sets, while Russia took the second and fourth. The match gave both coaches useful playing time before their public meeting in Ub.

Serbia won the opening set 30-28

Serbia and Russia remained level through most of the first set. Neither team created a lasting advantage during the regular 25-point period. Serbia handled the final exchanges better and won 30-28. The long finish tested serving accuracy and decision-making under immediate pressure. Russia responded in the second set. Its block slowed several Serbian attacks, while stronger serving reduced the quality of the first pass.

The visitors took that set 25-19 and levelled the match. Serbia then had a short break to adjust its receiving positions. Preparation matches allow those changes without hiding the main purpose. Both coaches wanted competitive rallies and information about current form.

Serbia regained control in the third set

Serbia produced a more stable side-out game after the interval. Better reception allowed the setters to use several attacking options. The home team won the third set 25-21. The score reflected a closer contest than the second set, but Serbia protected its lead near the end. Russia answered again in the fourth. The visitors served with pressure, won 25-18 and levelled the final score.

No fifth set was required because the training plan had already fixed the match length. The final 2-2 score recorded two sets for each side. The alternating set wins followed clear changes in reception. Serbia attacked through more positions whenever the first contact stayed near the net.

Russia's women's volleyball players gather during a match.

Several Serbian attackers shared the points

Aleksandra Uzelac led Serbia with 13 points. Tijana Boskovic and Hena Kurtagic followed with 12 points each. That distribution showed attacking support from different positions. Serbia did not depend on one hitter for every difficult ball. Vita Akimova and Marina Markova were among Russia's main attackers. Their height and reach created a strong test for Serbia's block.

The match also gave both teams time to use different rotations. Coaches could observe combinations that are difficult to test during ordinary training. Individual totals matter less than the quality of the team connection. Setters needed a reliable first pass before choosing between the available attackers.

Ub hosts the official friendly

Serbia and Russia meet again in a public friendly in Ub. The second match follows the closed session and provides another stage of preparation. The first meeting exposed the main difference between Serbia's strong and weak periods. Russia gained control whenever its serve moved reception away from the net. The 2-2 score showed no lasting control from either side. Each team produced strong periods and then faced an effective response.

Serbia's best sets combined patient reception with varied attacking choices. The weaker periods began when the first contact moved too far from the net. The public match will provide another full contest in front of spectators. The closed friendly produced a balanced starting point for both teams.

The margin changed throughout the match

Serbia won the long opening set by two points. Russia answered with a wider margin after its serve began disrupting the Serbian reception. Serbia reduced those problems and moved ahead again in the third set. The home attack used more positions after improving the first contact.

Russia produced the largest margin during the fourth set. Its serving pressure limited Serbia's choices and completed the balanced final score. The changing margins followed the quality of the first contact. Both teams created their best runs when the setter received several attacking options.

Serbia's leading attackers played different positions

Uzelac attacked mainly from the outside and recorded Serbia's most points. Boskovic brought power from the opposite position. Kurtagic added twelve points from the middle. Her contribution included quick attacks and work around the block.

Serbia could therefore compare three separate attacking options. A strong first pass allowed the setter to use all of them within the same rotation. Russia's block became more effective when reception moved away from the net. That contrast gives Serbia a precise area to review before the public match.

Four sets showed two versions of Serbia's play

Serbia won the sets where reception stayed close enough for several attacking choices. Russia gained control when its serve removed those options. The first set also proved that Serbia could manage a long ending. The team remained accurate after the score passed the normal winning point.

Russia's response prevented the session from becoming one-sided. The visitors won two sets by creating earlier separation rather than waiting for the final rallies. These contrasting periods give the coaches direct video examples. They can connect each serving run with the quality of the next Serbian attack.