Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 14, 2016 - Serbia and the Netherlands have been on top form in Rio and both have 3-1 records going into their final pool match.
The Netherlands edged China 3-2 in their first match and lost by the same score after going 2-1 up against USA two days later. They comfortably beat Italy 3-0 and Puerto Rico by the same score.
Serbia’s first win against Italy was a close 3-0 and they were pushed by in their 3-0 victory over Puerto Rico, the first set requiring 56 point to separate the two teams. The Serbs took a set off USA before rolling over China 3-0.
Surprisingly, the two teams haven’t met in an FIVB competition since the 2014 FIVB World Championship when Serbia won a close encounter 3-0.
The Netherlands’ Lonneke Sloetjes is the top scorer in the tournament with 82 points, while Serbia’s Brankica Mihajlovic is close behind at No. 74. The Netherlands’ Robin de Kruijf has the second-most kill-blocks in the tournament (13), but three Serbian players are among the tournament’s Top 10 blockers. Serbia captain Maja Ognjenovic is the top setter in the tournament, while Laura Dijkema of the Netherlands is at No. 3.