Serbian captain Katarina Lazovic scores with her spike against Poland's blocking
Lima, Peru, August 7, 2015 – Serbia claimed a comfortable straight-set victory 3-0 (25-20, 25-13, 25-23) over Poland in the first match of Pool B at the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U18 World Championship on Friday at Eduardo Dibos Coliseum.
Serbia held a huge advantage in the blocking category 18-8 and also dominated in aces 8-4 while getting the edge in attacks 29-28.
Anastasija Sekulic and Ana Asonja each contributed 12 points in the victory while Jovana Kocic added 9, including a match-high 6 blocks. Oliwia Michalak and Aleksandra Rasinska finished with 9 and 8 points, respectively, in the losing effort.
Serbia led 8-5 at the first technical time-out only to see Poland tying at 8-all. Lazovic broke the tie with a big smash followed by a block by Asonja and Serbia recovered the advantage. The European vice champions arrived to the second pause leading 16-12 and took the first set 25-20 with a right-hander by Asonja.
Sekulic gave Serbia an 8-5 lead combining spike and ace in the second set. The ace and spike by Kocic and Lazovic increased the margin to 16-8. The one-sided second set closed at 25-13 with Kocic blocking the spike by Michalak.
A three-point rally led by Asonja at 8-7 contributed to a Serbian 16-11 margin in the third set. Poland recovered and Michalak narrowed the distance to 18-15 with a booming spike but Serbia took the set and the match 25-23 with a spike from Stojkovic.