Italy won the 2007 and 2009 editions of Women's EuroVolley ©Getty Images

Serbia and Italy progressed to the semi-finals of the 2021 Women's EuroVolley tournament following comprehensive victories over France and Russia in Belgrade.

Serbia got off to a poor start in its capital as the French shot into an early 8-3 lead and continued to coast until the score reached 18-14.

However, Serbia managed to string three consecutive points to put the set on a knife edge and force the French coach to use the timeout of the game.

The decision clearly helped France to regain its composure as it held out to win 25-22.

In the second set, Serbia came out swinging through Tijana Bošković, who won nine points as Maja Ognjenović's serves finished it 25-18 to draw the Serbs level.

Serbia held on to the momentum and inflicted the heaviest set defeat of the tournament, crushing France 25-7.

That third set had left France's players visibly rattled and Ognjenović took advantage of that with an unstoppable ace which Bianka Buša then replicated in the very next point.

Serbia remained in the lead until the end to win 25-20 and 3-1 overall.

The result sets up a semi-final clash with Turkey on Friday (September 3) back in Belgrade.

Italy and Russia took to court following the conclusion of the match with the latter historically far superior.

In 13 meetings, Russia had won nine so went into the match with a certain swagger.

However, the Eastern Europeans were quickly brought down to earth when Italy flew into an early lead and eventually took the first set 25-20.

Italy did not hold anything back in the second set to smash 14 spikes on its opponent and win 25-8.

The Russians evidently had the stuffing knocked out of them after the second set thumping and lost all impetus to falter to a 25-15 and 3-0 overall defeat.

Italy are now scheduled to play The Netherlands in a hotly anticipated semi-final clash.