Boškovic ready to help Serbia in their final push at the VNL 2023

After a difficult winless opening week in the Volleyball Nations League 2023, reigning world champions Serbia kept their hopes of making it to the Finals of the tournament alive with stronger results last week in Brasilia, Brazil, getting three wins in four matches.

Heading to the third and final week of the Preliminary Phase, in Suwon, Korea, the Europeans will have a significant addition to their squad as the Most Valuable Player of the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship, opposite Tijana Boškovic, has confirmed she will be with the team in Asia.

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From the outside, she was watching some of her fellow world champions compete in Antalya and Brasilia alongside a handful of newcomers and secure three wins in eight matches, placing the team in ninth place ahead of the last week of the Preliminary Phase and in contention for a spot in the Finals – the best eight teams will play for the title of the VNL 2023 in Arlington, USA, from July 12-16.

“I think the team’s energy has been phenomenal,” the opposite said in an interview with Serbian side Sportal. “From the new players, I’d single out Aleksandra Uzelac, who played really well and took advantage of every opportunity she had. I think that having this youthful energy is important and I hope I can feel all that when I join the national team for the matches in Korea.”

The Serbians, who will play China, Germany, the Dominican Republic and Bulgaria, could have another massive return soon as star setter Maja Ognjenović is back with the national team for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics and is expected to be utilized by new coach Giovanni Guidetti at some point.

“Her presence means a lot to everyone, whether she’s playing or not,” Boškovic said about the 38-year-old setter. “I had the privilege of playing with her at both the national team and the club and the two of us work very well together. It’s a real pleasure for me to know that she will be with us again.”

The matches in Korea will also be the first of Boškovic under the guidance of new head coach Giovanni Guidetti, who was hired to replace Daniele Santarelli, who departed after guiding the team to last year’s world title.

“I don’t know how difficult it will be for me to adapt to his system, but every change requires some time,” the opposite commented. “We had the same situation last year and responded very well. I’ve known Guidetti for many years and the results speak for him. He’s a great coach, who won everything he could have won, and that says everything about his quality. The players who worked with him at the club level had nothing but great things to say about him, so I’m really looking forward to it and hoping that his presence will be very positive for us.”

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