NANJING, June 29 (Xinhua) -- The reigning world champions USA battered Serbia with an overwhelming 29-27, 25-22, 25-19 victory in the Volleyball Nations League finals on Friday.
Wing spiker Michelle Bartsch-Hackley led the attack for the USA with 16 points, including 14 kills from 32 attempts.
Opposite Kelly Murphy and veteran middle blocker Foluke Akinradewo joined the party scoring nine points apiece. With two forceful wins, the tournament top seed has successfully advanced to the semifinal round.
Serbia seemed shaken by their 2-3 loss to Turkey the day before even with their opposite Tijana Boskovic's match-leading 27 points.
The 21-year-old has to walk away as one of the stars of the tournament as the team failed in the do-or-die match against the USA. "Today they deserved to win. We played a little bit better than yesterday but we still played at low energy. I don't know why," said Serbia's head coach Terzic Zoran.
USA will now sit back to wait for the result from the blockbuster match between hosts China and Brazil on Friday night, which will decide their opponents in the semifinals on Saturday.
