Serbia women's volleyball team convincingly defeated Thailand in their opening match of VNL 2026.

Serbia's women's team began the first week of the 2026 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) on a positive note, securing a 3-0 victory (26-24, 25-22, 25-19) over Thailand in Pool 3.

Although they did not field their strongest lineup, the European representatives demonstrated clear superiority in physique, blocking ability, and attacking power to win after three sets.

From the very first set, Thailand entered the game with confidence, employing their familiar fast-paced style. Setter Natthanicha distributed the ball flexibly, enabling outside hitters Sasipaporn, Kantima, and Ajcharaporn to continuously exploit gaps in Serbia's block. The two teams battled closely for most of the set.

At one point, Thailand held a lead and was on the verge of winning the first set. However, at crucial moments, Serbia's composure made the difference. Outside hitter Uzelac consistently scored with powerful spikes from the wings, while Zubić and middle blocker Kurtagić were effective in blocking. Serbia successfully came from behind to narrowly win 26-24.

In the second set, the match remained balanced. Thailand maintained a high offensive tempo and tried to stretch the opponent's block with quick combinations in the middle. Opposite hitters Papatchaya and Pimpichaya contributed many important points, keeping the Southeast Asian team in contention. However, Serbia had far more effective wing attacks. Uzelac continued as the main weapon, while Aleksić frequently scored from quick attacks as a middle blocker. Errors late in the set cost Thailand the chance, and they lost 22-25.

Moving into the third set, psychological effects began to affect the Asian team. Serbia used their physical advantage to put strong pressure at the net. The block, with Kurtagić and Aleksic, repeatedly shut down Thailand's attacks, forcing them into difficult plays. The point gap quickly widened. Despite efforts by Ajcharaporn and Kantima to score from the wings, Thailand could not mount a comeback. Serbia closed the match with a 25-19 win, completing a 3-0 sweep in their opener.

In terms of individual statistics, outside hitter Uzelac was the standout star with 17 points, including 15 from attacks, 1 block, and 1 ace. She received strong support from Zubić, who scored 13 points, 4 of which came from blocks. Middle blockers Kurtagić and captain Aleksić also contributed 11 and 10 points respectively, giving Serbia complete dominance at the net.

For Thailand, opposite hitters Papatchaya and Pimpichaya each scored 7 points. Outside hitter Sasipaporn also had 7 points, while Kantima added 6. However, the Thai hitters faced great difficulties against Serbia's tall block, resulting in less-than-desired scoring efficiency.

Match statistics show Serbia's superiority in key areas. The European team recorded 11 blocks, while Thailand had only 3. The ability to capitalize on opportunities at critical moments was also a factor that helped Serbia secure a convincing victory.