Serbia's Bojana Milenkovic spikes for one of her 21 points in the victory over Russia
Gurabo, Puerto Rico, September 15, 2015 – Bojana Milenkovic fired 21 points, including three aces, to pace Serbia in a 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-18) victory over Russia in a match of Pool E at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U20 World Championship in Gurabo on Tuesday.
Serbia outscored Russia 11-9 and 11-8 in blocks and serves while overwhelming the defeated side in spikes 49-27.
Sara Lozo and Maja Aleksic contributed 14 and 11 points in the victory. Russia’s Angelina Sperskaite finished with 10 points.
Iurinskaia’ serves helped Russia to take a 8-5 but Serbia tied at 8-8 with Lozo’s spike. At 10-all Russian Sperskaite scored with spike and ace followed by another spike by Iurisnkaia for a 13-10. Russia led 16-10 at the second technical time-out. Serbia team reacted behind Milenkovic but it was not enough as Russia claimed the set 25-20 with a big cross court spike by Lazareva.
Good serving and defence gave Serbia an 8-3 lead in the second set. Russia came back to close in at 14-11 but two spikes in a row by Milenkovic and Lozo restored the order giving Serbia a 16-11 advantage. Lozo scored the last three points of Serbia for a 25-18 difference.
Serbia led the third set 8-2 and 16-10 at the technical time outs as Milenkovic continued to pace the offence with setter Cirovic distributing a well balanced attack. The score finished 25-16 for Serbia when Lazareva’s serve sailed long.
Serbia led 8-6 in the fourth set but Russia tied at 8-all with the spike by Iurinskaia. At 12-12, Aleksic served one ace and Milenkovic followed with a bomb for a two-point lead of Serbia. Russia tied at 16-all with a strong kill by Zhurbenko but Serbia recovered and established a four-point lead capped by one ace by Vucicekovic. Serbia took the set 25-18.