Tijana Bošković led Serbia's women's volleyball team to a flawless performance at a preparation tournament in Shenzhen, China, just days before they begin their World Championship title defense. The reigning world champions secured three wins from three matches, sending a clear message to their competitors.
Bošković dominated in the opening match against Bulgaria, scoring an impressive 25 points to secure a 3-1 victory. The Serbian captain showed why she remains one of the world's premier volleyball talents.
In their second match, it was rising star Aleksandra Uzelac who took center stage. The outside hitter fired 21 points as Serbia overcame Canada in four sets, continuing their winning momentum.
"We're taking each match as an opportunity to fine-tune our game before the World Championship," the team management might say, considering their methodical approach to the tournament.
The final test came against the Netherlands, and Serbia didn't disappoint. Uzelac once again led the scoring with 22 points, with Bošković adding another 16 as they swept the Dutch 3-0 to complete their perfect run.
Interestingly, the Netherlands finished second in the tournament standings, while Bulgaria secured third place after edging Canada, who finished fourth.
Serbia now heads to Thailand with momentum firmly on their side. Drawn into Pool H for the World Championship, they'll face Ukraine, Cameroon, and Japan in the opening round, beginning their campaign on August 23 in Bangkok.
Can the Serbian squad successfully defend their title with this kind of form? Their performance in Shenzhen certainly suggests they're ready for the challenge.
