If you walked into a café in Belgrade right now and started talking about the serbia women's volleyball team, you’d probably get an earful. It wouldn’t be about lack of talent. Definitely not. It would be about the "transition." That’s the word everyone is using.
They’re currently ranked 9th in the FIVB World Rankings, which, honestly, feels weird to type. For a decade, these women were the gold standard. They didn't just win; they dominated. Two-time consecutive World Champions (2018, 2022). Multiple European titles. Olympic silver and bronze. But then 2024 and 2025 happened, and things got... complicated.
The Post-Paris Identity Crisis
Let’s be real: the Paris 2024 Olympics were a gut punch. A seventh-place finish wasn't in the script. Giovanni Guidetti, the tactical mastermind who took over after Zoran Terzić's legendary 20-year run, couldn't quite find the "it" factor. He’s gone now, by the way. He’s coaching Canada as of early 2025.
So, who’s at the helm for the serbia women's volleyball team now?
Zoran Terzić is back. The man who basically built Serbian volleyball from the ground up returned to the bench for the 2026 season. It’s like that old saying—you don't know what you've got until it's gone. Terzić knows these players' DNA. He knows how to push Tijana Bošković without breaking her, and he knows how to integrate the kids.
Speaking of Tijana...
🔗 Read more: Liverpool FC Chelsea FC: Why This Grudge Match Still Hits Different
Is Bošković Still "The Boss"?
Short answer: Yes.
Longer answer: She’s been carrying a heavy load. In the 2025 World Championship, she suffered a nasty ankle injury during a match against Cameroon. It was bittersweet. Serbia won the game 3-0, but seeing the MVP of the last two World Championships hobbling off the court in Bangkok was a wake-up call.
She’s 28 now. In volleyball years, that’s prime. But she’s played a lot of sets. Her move to VakıfBank for the 2025-2026 season was the talk of the transfer market, especially since she spent nearly a decade at Eczacıbaşı. It’s a fresh start at the club level that many hope will translate back to the national team. When she's on, she's untouchable. That left-handed spike? It’s still the scariest thing in the sport.
The New Faces You Need to Know
You can’t just rely on Bošković. Every team knows that now. They triple-block her and pray.
The serbia women's volleyball team is undergoing a massive facelift. Maja Ognjenović, the legendary setter, is finally stepping back. You don’t just replace a player like that. You adapt.
💡 You might also like: NFL Football Teams in Order: Why Most Fans Get the Hierarchy Wrong
- Aleksandra Uzelac: Only 21 and already a regular. She’s got that "don't care who's on the other side" attitude.
- Hena Kurtagić: A middle blocker who is basically a human wall. She was born in 2004—feel old yet?
- Vanja Bukilić: Providing that much-needed relief for Bošković at the opposite position.
It’s a mix. You’ve still got the veterans like Maja Aleksić and Teodora Pušić holding the floor, but the energy is different. It’s more frantic. Less "we know we’re going to win" and more "we have to prove we still belong."
What Went Wrong in 2025?
People keep asking why Serbia finished 10th in the 2025 World Championship.
Losing to the Netherlands 2-3 in the Round of 16 was the low point. It wasn't just the loss; it was the way it happened. They looked tired. The injury to Bošković early in the tournament clearly rattled the chemistry. When your focal point is hurting, everyone else starts overthinking.
Also, let’s be fair: the world got better. Italy is a machine right now. Türkiye with Melissa Vargas is terrifying. Brazil is, well, Brazil. The serbia women's volleyball team isn't playing in a vacuum. The gap has closed, and the "Serbian Wall" of the late 2010s has a few cracks in it.
The Road to EuroVolley 2026
This is the big one. Belgrade is hosting the European Championship in late summer 2026.
📖 Related: Why Your 1 Arm Pull Up Progression Isn't Working (And How to Fix It)
The schedule is already out. Serbia starts their campaign in Brno, Czechia, for the pool stage before the tournament shifts to the knockout rounds. They’re in a tough group with the hosts and some "trap" teams like Austria and Belgium.
But playing in front of the Belgrade crowd? That’s a different beast.
There is immense pressure on the serbia women's volleyball team to reach the podium at home. Anything less than a medal will be seen as a failure by the local media. They need a big result to climb back up from that #9 ranking and secure a favorable spot for the 2028 Olympic qualifiers.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re following this team, keep your eyes on these three things over the next few months:
- The Setter Connection: Watch how Rada Perović and Bojana Drča (if she's in the rotation) handle the transition from Ognjenović. The speed of the offense has to stay high.
- Middle Blocker Points: Serbia used to win games on blocks. If Aleksić and Kurtagić aren't averaging at least 4-5 blocks a set combined, they struggle.
- The "Bošković Backup" Plan: See how much court time Vanja Bukilić gets. Serbia cannot afford to run Tijana into the ground before the medal rounds.
The 2026 season is basically a "prove it" year. They have the talent. They have the legendary coach back. Now they just need to find that Serbian grit that made them the best in the world.
Watch the VNL matches in June. That will tell you everything you need to know about their fitness and whether the Terzić-Bošković magic still works. If they can’t break the top four in the VNL, the road to the European gold in Belgrade is going to be incredibly steep.