Serbia overcomes coach's sudden exit to beat Poland 3-1: A lesson in squad depth

When the image of Zoran Terzić leaving the technical area appeared on the big screen at the start of the third set, the stands seemed to sink. The head coach of Serbia, who had just experienced a health issue, had to leave the court for medical attention. Poland, a team trailing 0-2, suddenly seemed to gain strength. They surged forward like a storm and won the set 25-15. But what was notable was not the emotional shock, but how Serbia reacted. They returned in the fourth set with a completely different face, winning 25-18 and closing the semifinal with a 3-1 score. This tournament witnessed the strong rise of European women's volleyball. Serbia, with a squad of many stars who have competed in multiple World Cups and Olympics, entered the competition as a top title contender. They showed impressive form from the group stage, losing only one set throughout their journey before the semifinal. Poland, under Italian coach Stefano Lavarini, also had a surprisingly successful tournament. For the first time in many years, they reached the semifinal, and the team's morale was very high. The semifinal between Serbia and Poland was expected to be a fiery match, as both teams possessed excellent main hitters. On Serbia's side was Tijana Bošković, one of the best opposites in the world today. On Poland's side was Magdalena Stysiak, who had an explosive tournament. These two stars promised to create a fierce duel. The incident occurred at the start of the third set. After two easy set wins (25-21 and 25-19), Serbia led 2-0. However, Terzić suddenly showed signs of fatigue and had to leave the court for medical care. Information from the coaching staff said he had a drop in blood pressure and needed monitoring. His absence immediately affected the players' psychology. They became unfocused, their passing deteriorated, and the blocking was no longer solid. Poland took advantage of this opportunity to lead from the start and won easily 25-15. Sets 1 and 2 witnessed Serbia's dominance. Bošković scored consistently, while Uzelac and the middle blockers also contributed. Poland seemed confused in dealing with Serbia's block. But in set 3, everything turned around. Serbia's disorder allowed Stysiak to explode. She scored consecutive important points, putting Poland ahead. However, entering set 4, Serbia regained their composure. The assistant coach, along with the captain, quickly stabilized the lineup. They played more solidly, reduced errors, and won 25-18. Looking at the official score sheet, Tijana Bošković continued to assert her class with 29 points, exactly one more than Poland's direct opponent Magdalena Stysiak (28 points). However, the important thing was not that number, but the distribution of points within the Serbian squad. Aleksandra Uzelac, the outside hitter, scored 15 points; the two middle blockers Maja Kurtagić and Sara Tica each had 12 points. This shows Serbia had at least four truly dangerous attacking options. This diversity made it difficult for the opposing block to focus on one point. In contrast, Poland relied almost entirely on Stysiak. She scored 28 of the team's total points, and no second player surpassed the 10-point mark. Outside hitters like Olivia Różański or Martyna Czyrniańska only managed a few points, not enough to create a threat. This difference in squad depth was the decisive factor. When the coach was absent, Serbia still had many attacking options, while Poland had only one main weapon, easily targeted by the opponent's block. The difference between the two teams was not in the quality of stars, but in squad depth. Serbia could rotate multiple attacking options, while Poland could not. When Stysiak was neutralized, Poland was almost stuck. Meanwhile, if Bošković was blocked, Serbia still had Uzelac, Kurtagić, Tica. This made a big difference in crucial moments. In set 4, when Serbia needed points to win, they rotated different attacking options, making Poland's block unable to keep up. In today's elite women's volleyball, the opposite position is becoming increasingly important. Teams often build their game around a dominant opposite capable of scoring from any position. Bošković, Egonu, Vargas, Stysiak are typical examples. However, a team relying solely on one star is very easy to counter. The success of Serbia, and also Turkey in the final, shows they had good support from other positions. The final between Turkey and Italy was a top duel between the two best opposites in the world: Melissa Vargas and Paola Egonu. Both scored 28 points, an impressive number. However, the notable thing was that both teams had other players shining. On Turkey's side, Ebrar Karakurt scored 15 points, while on Italy's side, middle blockers like Anna Danesi also contributed significantly. This shows that to win a championship, you cannot have just one star, but need a strong collective. Terzić's health issue was a great lesson in emotional management in top-level sports. When the coach leaves the court, the team can fall into panic. But Serbia showed they had a mature collective, capable of overcoming crises. This could not happen without careful preparation from the coaching staff and the players' experience. They proved that a big team does not depend on a single individual, even if that individual is the head coach. Many people believe that the coach's absence was the direct cause of Serbia losing set 3. But in reality, that is not entirely accurate. Emotional disorder was the main problem. Poland won set 3 not because they played better, but because Serbia lost focus and made many unforced errors. Evidence is in set 4, when Serbia regained calm, they completely dominated. This shows that the mentality of a big team does not depend on whether the coach is sitting on the bench or not. In 5 years of following elite women's volleyball, I have never seen a team overcome a mental shock as big as Serbia did in this semifinal. Usually, when the head coach has an issue, the team loses tactical guidance and easily collapses. But Serbia showed they had a system that operated so well that the assistants could replace the head coach seamlessly. This reflects the professionalism in the work of the entire coaching staff. When reviewing the match footage, I noticed an interesting detail: in set 3, Serbia's perfect pass rate was only about 30%, much lower than in sets 1 and 2 (about 55%). This prevented them from running quick attacks, forcing them to use high balls to Bošković. Conversely, in set 4, the rate increased, helping Serbia diversify their play. This is a clear demonstration that focus directly affects passing quality, and therefore attacking efficiency. In major tournaments, we often see teams that rely on one star fail in the semifinal or final. For example, at the 2026 World Cup, the Netherlands relied on Nika Daalderop and were eliminated in the quarterfinals. In contrast, champions like Serbia, Italy, and Turkey all had balanced scoring distribution. This shows a clear trend: modern women's volleyball values collective play over individualism. With the development of professional leagues and strong investment from federations, women's volleyball is becoming more and more attractive. Teams are constantly improving squad depth, nurturing young talents. This will create more intense and unpredictable matches. The semifinal between Serbia and Poland is a typical example of this development. Set 1: Serbia started well thanks to good blocking and effective attacks from Bošković. Poland made many passing errors, allowing Serbia to score easily. Score 25-21. Set 2: Poland improved their blocking, but Serbia maintained their advantage thanks to Uzelac's brilliance. She scored important points in decisive moments. Score 25-19. Set 3: Terzić's incident disrupted Serbia's lineup. They lost focus, passed poorly, and allowed Poland to lead 8-3 from the start. Stysiak exploded with powerful spikes. Serbia could not turn the tide and lost 15-25. Set 4: Serbia returned with a new spirit. They played solidly, reduced errors. The block worked effectively, stopping Stysiak. Bošković and teammates scored consistently, winning 25-18. In this tournament, Bošković averaged 25 points per match, while Stysiak averaged 22. However, Stysiak had a lower attack success rate, only about 40%, compared to Bošković's 48%. This shows Bošković not only scored more points but was also more efficient. Additionally, Bošković contributed better in blocking, with an average of 0.8 block points per set, while Stysiak only had 0.3. In set 4, Serbia's assistant coach made smart substitution decisions. He brought in a backup setter to change the attacking rhythm, and a backup libero to strengthen defense. These changes worked, helping Serbia regain control. This shows that squad depth is not only about scoring positions, but also about all positions on the court. When Terzić left, Serbia could not change tactics flexibly. They had to follow what had been prepared beforehand. However, thanks to thorough preparation, they could still operate well. This shows the importance of building a flexible tactical system that can adapt to any situation. This semifinal was not just a simple sports match, but also a lesson in crisis management, squad depth, and team spirit. Serbia proved they deserve to be one of the strongest teams in the world. And let's wait and see if they can continue to shine in the final. When Terzić left the court, many thought Serbia would collapse. But they stood firm. That was not just a victory of a team, but a victory of a collective that knows how to overcome adversity. That is the spirit of a true champion. And that is also a lesson for all teams: to achieve glory, you need more than one star.