The reigning women's volleyball world champion suffers a shocking elimination

The Netherlands caused an upset at the 2025 Women's Volleyball World Championship by dramatically defeating defending champion Serbia 3-2 in the round of 16.

The Netherlands delivered the biggest shock of the 2025 Women's Volleyball World Championship by knocking out the defending champion Serbia in the round of 16. The match stretched to a tense five sets, ending with a 3-2 victory for the Western European team (27-25, 26-24, 22-25, 20-25, 15-11). This result turned the tournament upside down as Serbia officially became the former champion.

In the first two sets, the Netherlands demonstrated strong resilience. Even though they were often trailing, Daalderop and her teammates capitalized on Serbia’s mistakes to turn the match around. Winning 27-25 and 26-24 respectively, the European side gained a significant advantage by leading 2-0.

Just when it seemed the match would end quickly, Serbia unexpectedly surged in the third set. Star attackers Uzelac and Ivanović consistently scored points, helping the Balkan team reverse the momentum by winning 25-22. Their momentum continued into the fourth set as Serbia intensified offensive pressure, especially with their wing attacks, to tie the match at 2-2 after a 25-20 win.

Entering the decisive fifth set, both teams faced intense psychological pressure. In a closely contested battle, the Netherlands showed composure with cool-headed plays at critical moments. The steadiness of Daalderop and the efficiency of Dambrink allowed the Netherlands to overcome their opponent 15-11, concluding a long and emotional match.

From an individual statistics perspective, captain Daalderop was the main offensive force for the Netherlands with 19 points, including 17 attacks. Dambrink contributed 17 points, while M. Jasper added 13 points, including 2 crucial blocks. On the Serbian side, Uzelac scored an impressive 28 points, and Ivanović had 24 points. However, Serbia’s heavy reliance on these two attackers caused difficulties in the final set, as the Dutch defense adapted better.

This defeat officially ends Serbia’s quest to defend their title. For the Netherlands, the victory is historic as it marks the first time they have eliminated a reigning world champion in the knockout stage. This outcome also opens the door for other contenders, ensuring a new champion will be crowned.