Serbia has defeated a determined Cuban side in four sets (18:25, 25:13, 25:21, 27:25) to reach the final to the delight of the home fans.

 

 

In front of over 15,000 fans at Beogradska Arena, Serbia overcame a slow and nervous start to go on and prevail to their fourth World League final.

The Cubans started the match red hot leading from the first serve, taking a five point advantage early on and never let Serbia come close, winning the set by seven points.

The second set was a different story and the men in blue upset at their easy loss in the first set, outclassed Cuba with some fabulous volleyball, all segments of the game were on show and working beautifully for Serbia, the key being the block and excellent defence, with Ivan “the terrible” Miljkovic not giving the Cubans a chance with his powerful spiking. The same would follow in set three.

beogradska arena volleyball 

In the fourth set Cuba was not going to go down easy and they showed excellent determination saving a match point, but the Serbian side under the guidance of their charismatic captain Nikola Grbic would keep their cool and earn that valuable point that sent the crowed in raptures and Serbia into the final.

Serbia will face arch rivals Brazil who will be hoping to equal Italy?s record of eight World League titles. The two sides have met in the final two times before with Brazil winning two world class volleyball matches, an epic five setter in 2003, winning the tiebreaker an incredible 31:29 and in 2005, when Serbia last hosted the World League, Brazil took that match in four sets.

The final will be a historic match for both sides, can Serbia win their first World League title in four attempts or will Brazil cause more heart break and equal Italy´s record of eight World League Championships.

By Alex Milic

grbic vladimir nikola