Womens Volleyball-FIVB Women's World Championship Japan

In her first proper start for Serbia, Dragana Marinkovic and her 1.97m frame proved a real handful for Algeria at the net as the 28-year-old topped scored with 10 points along with Sanja Malagurski

Tokyo, Japan, November 2, 2010 - Undefeated Serbia kept their momentum going against Algeria on Tuesday, notching their fourth win (25-15, 25-12, 25-21) from as many matches in the first round at Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo. Clearly outmatched on the day, Algeria continued to struggle in a difficult Pool A, taking their fourth consecutive loss to extinguish any hope the African champions had of qualifying for the second round.

Serbia was led by Sanja Malagurski and Dragana Marinkovic with 10 points each. Algeria’s Faiza Tsabet and Zohra Bensalem both tallied eight points a piece for the losing side.

FIVB Women's World Championship Japan 2010 official page


Serbia was in control for the first, jumping ahead of Algeria early. Algeria managed to put together some counter-attacks on the left with Bensalem dropping some good attacking spikes from the left. But Serbia kept their composure, going up 15-10 on an ace from Maja Ognjenovic that Bensalem couldn’t pick up. Brakocevic attacked well in the set notching seven points including a spike that gave Serbia set point, and then Marinkovic rounded it out 25-15 with a tip at the net.

The second set was a little closer early on, with Algeria’s Bensalem continuing her great play with a spike to move within one point of Serbia at 8-7. But solid attacking play by Rasic and good serving from Vesovic allowed Serbia to go on a 7-1 points run to take control 15-8. Outstanding blocking by Marinkovic on the tram lines, punctuated by a great stop on Boukhima, helped the girls in blue take the set 25-15 and hold a comfortable two set lead.

Serbia appeared unfocused to start the third, allowing Algeria to hold a slight lead with Lydia Oulmou tipping over the net to put them up 8-4 at the TTO. The upstart Algerians managed to extend to 12-6 on a block by Tassasit Aissou on Serbia’s Jovana Vesovic. But Serbia eventually woke from their slumber, taking eight of the next nine points, thanks to a flurry of unstoppable attacks from spiker Sanja Malagurski to go up 14-13. Algeria stuck close until late, when they were plagued by errors including two from Tsabet. Amazingly Malagurski had all her 10 points in the final set driving Serbia to the third set and match victory 25-21.


For Algeria, all eyes turn to their final match of the tournament against Poland on Wednesday to see if they can at least win their first set of the competition.