Serbia recover to beat Ukraine 3-1 in the Nations League in Belgrade

Serbia kept its Nations League finals hopes alive with a 3-1 win over Ukraine in Belgrade. Ukraine took the first set 25-22, but Serbia answered 25-17, 25-21 and 25-23.

The result followed Serbia's opening defeat by Turkiye in the Belgrade week. Germany are next on July 18, followed by Slovenia on July 19. Only the leading teams will join host China at the final tournament in Ningbo.

Ukraine's serve controlled the opening set

Ukraine started with strong serving and direct attacks. Serbia stayed close but often received the ball away from the ideal passing line. That made the next action easier to read.

Ukraine protected its small lead and closed the set 25-22 with fewer mistakes in the final rallies.

Serbia did not need a complete tactical change. The first job was a better first contact. A stable pass gave the setter more than one attacking option and stopped the Ukrainian block from waiting in one place.

That improvement appeared early in the second set and changed the speed of the match.

The Masulovic brothers changed the second set

Serbia's first contact became more stable in the second set. The setter received more usable passes and could distribute the ball across several attackers. Ukraine's block then had less time to wait in one position.

The Masulovic brothers supplied important points during the response. Serbia moved from a 22-25 opening loss to a 25-17 set, which brought the match level and changed the pressure inside the hall.

The third and fourth sets completed the comeback

Serbia moved ahead by winning the third set 25-21. Ukraine stayed close in the fourth, but Serbia finished the match with a 25-23 set and a 3-1 victory.

The full sequence was 22-25, 25-17, 25-21 and 25-23. Serbia won the last three sets after Ukraine led the match 1-0.

Block and defence protected the comeback

Serbia's block slowed several Ukrainian attacks after the first set. Touches above the net gave the back line more time and created transition chances for the home team.

Serbia's coach speaks to the players during the Nations League match with Ukraine

The defence also waited longer before moving toward the hitter. That reduced the open angles and helped Serbia turn difficult rallies into points during the third and fourth sets.

The home round started with Serbia's opening match of the Belgrade VNL week before the Ukraine comeback.

Germany are next in the Belgrade schedule

Serbia return to the court against Germany on July 18. The match follows less than two days after the victory over Ukraine, so the home round continues without a long break.

Germany bring a separate result and a separate place in the standings. The confirmed part of the schedule is simple: Serbia play Germany before closing the week against Slovenia.

The final-tournament race remains open

The Ukraine win added points to Serbia's Nations League record. It did not by itself secure a place at the final tournament in Ningbo.

China qualify as hosts, while the leading teams from the preliminary phase fill the other places. Serbia still have two Belgrade matches available to change their total.

The home round now contains one win and one defeat

Turkiye beat Serbia in the opening match of the Belgrade week. Serbia answered with the 3-1 victory over Ukraine in the second fixture.

That record leaves the last two matches to complete the home programme. Germany and Slovenia will provide the remaining results before the preliminary table is settled.

Belgrade is the third and final preliminary week of Serbia's Nations League schedule.

The comeback is recorded through four exact set scores

Ukraine won 25-22, before Serbia took the next three sets 25-17, 25-21 and 25-23. The last two sets were close, but both finished with Serbia ahead.

The sequence confirms a 3-1 victory. Serbia return to the same Belgrade court against Germany on July 18.

Serbia's volleyball players regroup on court against Ukraine in Belgrade

Serbia's comeback also changed the balance of points across the four sets. Ukraine scored 86 points and Serbia scored 97. The 11-point total difference came mainly from Serbia's eight-point win in the second set.

The last two sets were much closer and ended by four and two points. The exact set sequence remains the clearest account of how the victory was formed.

Serbia won 75 of the final 136 points after the opening set and completed the turnaround in front of the home crowd. All totals refer only to the four sets played in Belgrade.

The match supplied Serbia's first victory of the Belgrade week. It also kept the final two home fixtures relevant to the preliminary table instead of turning them into games without a standings effect.

Across the first two Belgrade fixtures, Serbia have one win and one defeat. Germany and Slovenia complete the four-match home programme.