Serbia complete perfect Pool B run, Czechia produce dramatic comeback against Bulgaria

The final day of Pool B action in Brno arrived with three teams - Serbia, Czechia and Greece - already through to the eighthfinals, leaving just one ticket still up for grabs. Serbia’s straight-set victory over Ukraine, however, quickly settled the race, confirming Bulgaria as the fourth team to progress. Ukraine pushed the unbeaten pool leaders all the way, but could not prevent Serbia from completing a perfect run, with Aleksandra Uzelac once again leading the way. Later on Thursday, Czechia produced an unbelievable comeback in the opening set against Bulgaria, rallying from eight points down to win the opener in extra points and claim their fourth victory in the final match of Pool B.

Ukraine vs Serbia 0-3 (21-25, 22-25, 21-25)

Serbia entered the court with four wins already under their belt and first place in Pool B secured, while Ukraine knew that only a victory would keep their hopes of a potential place in the eighthfinals alive. Highly motivated, Ukraine made a strong start to the match, racing to a 7-4 lead with Daria Meliushkyna on the service line. A block from Svitlana Dorsman, who scored three points in the set, together with Yuliia Dymar helped Ukraine build their early advantage. Serbia responded quickly, however, using the block as their main weapon - particularly the Ognjenović-Popović duo - not only to level the score but also to start building an advantage of their own at 11-9. With Aleksandra Uzelac, Serbia’s top scorer in the set with 7 points, on the service line, the leaders extended their advantage to 15-11 before taking control at 18-12. Ukraine refused to give up. With Oleksandra Milenko, who also scored 6 points in the set, on serve, they began to close the gap to 18-15 and continued to challenge their far more decorated opponents. Even as Serbia entered the decisive stage with a 23-18 advantage, Ukraine kept fighting. In the end, however, a spike from Tijana Bošković, who also contributed seven points, sealed the opening set 25-21 for Serbia.

Maja Ognjenović’s service run, including one ace, gave Serbia a flying 4-0 start to the second set. Ukraine, however, were not discouraged and quickly erased the deficit to level the score at 5-5, with the match then continuing on a point-by-point basis for a while. An ace from Anja Žubić, who had temporarily replaced Bošković, helped Serbia regain the initiative and move 10-7 ahead. The pool leaders continued to maintain a comfortable advantage, extending it to four points at 18-14. Ukraine, led by Oleksandra Milenko (7 points) and Anna Artyshuk (4), refused to give up and gradually fought their way back, eventually reducing the deficit to just one point at 21-20. Serbia withstood the pressure, however, and great plays from Branka Tica (5 points) and Aleksandra Uzelac, who contributed nine, helped them earn a series of set points. A spike from Mina Popović then sealed the set 25-22.

With no more room for error, Ukraine made a flying start to the third set. With Oleksandra Milenko on the service line, they raced to a 6-0 lead, but Serbia gradually began to close the gap before eventually taking a 15-11 advantage, led by great plays from Aleksandra Uzelac, who scored six points in the set, and Branka Tica.The match was far from over, however. Fighting to stay alive, Ukraine produced another comeback, with Yuliia Dymar on serve and powerful spikes from Milenko (5 points in this set) helping them level the score at 19-19. Serbia quickly stopped Ukraine’s momentum. An Uzelac spike, followed by an ace from Tica, helped the pool leaders regain control, and another powerful attack from Uzelac sealed the set 25-21 and the match in straight sets.

Aleksandra Uzelac topped the scorers’ chart with 22 points, including 17 kills, 3 blocks and 2 aces, while also recording 48% positive reception. Branka Tica added 12 points, including 3 aces. On Ukraine’s side, Oleksandra Milenko led the way with 18 points.

Czechia vs Bulgaria 3-0 (28-26, 25-19, 25-19)

The final match of Pool B in Brno opened with arguably the most incredible set of the tournament so far, proving once again that nothing is over until it is over. With their place in the Eight Finals already secured, Bulgaria played with freedom and confidence, producing some excellent volleyball to race into a commanding 12-5 lead. Aleksandra Milanova and Iva Dudova led the way with eight and six points, respectively, as Bulgaria continued to dominate and extended their advantage to 16-8. The crowd at the Brno Exhibition Centre did everything they could to spark the hosts - and Czechia responded with an unbelievable comeback. Gradually reducing the gap to 21-18, the home side eventually levelled the score at 24-24. Magdalena Jehlarova, with five points, together with Ela Koulisiani and Helena Grozer, who added four points apiece, led the Czech charge, but the entire team put their hearts into the comeback. Czechia denied four set points before finally completing a remarkable turnaround and closing the set 28-26.

The intense fight for every point continued only in the early stage of the second set. Following an ace from Kateřina Valková that gave Czechia a 10-7 lead, the hosts quickly began to pull away, extending their advantage to 17-8 and then 24-16, leaving Bulgaria with no answer to their excellent play in front of 4,725 fans. Despite holding such a significant lead, Czechia briefly struggled to close out the set, but Monika Brancušká eventually delivered the decisive point to seal it. She and Magdalena Bukovská led the hosts’ scoring efforts with five points apiece.

Bulgaria refused to give up and tried to keep pace with the hosts early in the third set (7-6), but Czechia were determined to close the match in straight sets. Monika Brancušká was unstoppable in attack, while the hosts also continued to work well at the net, extending their lead to 20-13 before eventually sealing the victory 25-19.

Monika Brancušká was Czechia’s top scorer with 12 points, all of them coming in attack, while Magdalena Jehlarová added 10, including four blocks. For Bulgaria, Aleksandra Milanova scored 15 points and Iva Dudova contributed 12.