Serbia, playing in red, beat the United States in four games to reach the Women's Volleyball World Championship final ©Getty Images

Serbia booked their place in the Women’s Volleyball World Championship final after a four-set triumph over the United States in the opening semi-final in Gliwice, Poland.

The defending champions triumphed 25-21, 25-20, 17-25, 25-23 and will face either Italy or Brazil in the final on Saturday (October 15), as they look to retain their crown.

Captain Tijana Boskovic saw Serbia’s star performer and the game’s top scorer with 33 points, including a kill block and 32 spiking points.

On the US side, their skipper Kelsey Robinson was the team’s top scorer with 18 points.

In set one Serbia twice had six point leads, which the US reduced to 20-18, before middle blocker Jovana Stevanovic clinched the set 25-21.

Holders Serbia celebrate after reaching the Women's Volleyball World Championship final ©Getty Images
Holders Serbia celebrate after reaching the Women's Volleyball World Championship final ©Getty Images

The second set was level at 14-14, with the US then taking a one-point lead, before Serbia retook the advantage, with Boskovic winning the last two points of the set to seal it 25-20.

The third set took a different pattern, with the US managing a run of seven straight points to open up an 18-10 advantage, before Andrea Drews clinched the crucial point to win the set 25-17.

In set four, the US took the lead at 13-11, before Serbia regained the advantage at 17-16.

Boskovic, who claimed ten points in the set, delivered the winning blow as Serbia won the set, and with it the match, 25-23.

Italy and Brazil are set to meet in the second semi-final in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands tomorrow.