By Bev Oden

The FloVolleyball Olympics Rankings will count down to the start of the indoor volleyball competition in Rio by highlighting one team per gender each day. Today, six days before the first serve, we profile the No. 6-ranked Iran men and Serbia women.

COUNTRY: Serbia

TOP PLAYERS

Brankica Mihajlovic, Outside Hitter
Seventh-best scorer and second-best spiker at World Cup; Serbia's second-best scorer and best server at World Grand Prix

Jovana Stevanovic, Middle Blocker
Serbia's second-best server and best blocker at World Grand Prix; ninth-best server at World Cup

Jovana Brakocevic, Opposite
Best scorer, best spiker on team World Grand Prix; third-best blocker at World Grand Prix

RISING STAR TO WATCH

Tijana Boskovic | 19 | Opposite
Third-best scorer, fifth-best spiker at World Cup; Serbia's third-best scorer at World Grand Prix


 

SYNOPSIS

Serbia placed fifth in its first Olympic appearance in Beijing in 2008. Injuries in 2012 left the team unable to win a single match in London, however, and it won just two sets the entire tournament. In the ensuing four years the Serbians shown themselves to be back in good form and they'll be looking to medal for the first time.

Serbia was one of the first two teams to qualify for Rio by winning the silver at World Cup in 2015. There it beat both USA and Russia in five sets. Although Serbia finished with the same record as gold medalist China, it lost on points to take second place.

Serbia just missed qualifying for the final round at World Grand Prix in June. Tied with the Netherlands with a 5-4 record, it again lost out on points. Serbia lost four early matches with a number of players from its second team on the floor. Once the first team took over halfway through the tournament, it won five of its last six matches including a five-set victory over Brazil.

PREDICTION

Serbia should beat Puerto Rico, Italy and the Netherlands to advance from pool play in third place behind the powerful attacks of their 6-4 opposite Tijana Boscovic and the tough serving and attacking of outside hitter Brankica Mihajlovic. It could win its quarterfinal match and head to the medal round, but the bronze medal match is the best case scenario for this team.

FloVolleyball Women's 2016 Olympics Rankings

12. Cameroon

11. Puerto Rico

10. Argentina

9. Korea

8. The Netherlands

7. Italy

6. Serbia

5. Japan