The competition's surprise package followed up on their impressive giant-killing start to the tournament by recovering from two sets down to overcome the South Americans.

Peru took a commanding two set lead as the Europeans struggled to find the form that had shocked defending champions Italy and Cuba, and brought them to within one victory of progressing from Pool D.

But a determined rearguard action brought Serbia and Montenegro back on level terms at 2-2, before an amazing 25-23 tie-break set win, where the Europeans missed fourteen match points before closing the game, kept them on course to win Pool D.

Top scorer Ivana Djerisilo had revealed before the match that her team-mates were looking to emulate the 1998 Yugoslavia men's team, who took the silver medal in that year's tournament, also held in Japan.

But Peru would be no pushover going into the match at Nagoya's Rainbow Hall, showing their class in their opening game with a confident win over Egypt, before succumbing to the Italians the following day.

It was Serbia and Montenegro who started the stronger, however, Djerisilo putting her money where her mouth is with a clever early lobbed point.

Peru had ambitions of their own, however, and Maja Ognjenovic felt the full force of a South American spike in the face as the Peruvians made use of their attacking power.

A Mirtha Uribe block from Jelena Nikolic's spike attempt gave Peru a 10-9 lead, before captain Leyla Chihuan produced a strong spike to extend the South Americans' advantage to 15-12.

Serbia and Montenegro coach Zoran Terzic had singled out Chihuan as the danger woman in the Peruvian side, and she was causing all sorts of problems for the Europeans at the net.

Anja Spasojevic was doing her best to bring Serbia and Montenegro level with huge spikes on the left flank, but Peru were edging closer to claiming the first set.

Serbia and Montenegro kept up the pressure, however, and a Natasa Krsmanovic block tied the set at 21-21.

But Peru pulled away again, and Chihuan gave the South Americans three set points at 24-21.

Milagros Moy was unable to finish the job when she spiked long, but the Peruvian number 8 made no mistake at the next time of asking, clinching the first set 25-23.

Urged on by the whistles, cheers and horns of the red and white fans in the crowd, Peru kept up their momentum at the start of the second set, with Chihuan playing an important captain's role.

But Serbia and Montenegro captain Vesna Citakovic was also leading by example, helping her side to a narrow 8-7 lead at the first TTO.

The Balkan side returned unable to find their rhythm or range, firing several spikes out of bounds in quick succession to hand Peru a 12-8 lead.

Peru got their noses even further in front, with Natalia Romanova providing an attacking threat on the left as the South Americans threatened to run away with the set at 20-14.

But Aleksandra Rankovic showed Serbia and Montenegro were prepared to fight for every point, making two crucial blocks at the net before the ball fell into position for a winning spike.

Moy took Peru to set point at 24-19, but again Serbia and Montenegro refused to capitulate, scrambling two points to claw the set back to 24-21.

But the resistance eventually gave way, as Moy hammered the ball through the defence to give Peru a two set advantage.

Serbia and Montenegro looked to get back into the match as quickly as possible, and led the third set 8-6 at the first TTO.

The spikes that had been misfiring in the second set were now finding their target, with Djerisilo the chief executioner.

But Peruvian setter Elena Keldibekova was stretching Serbia and Montenegro's defence with her clever distribution, unleashing big spikes from Romanova and Chihuan.

The Serbia and Montenegro defence was holding firm, however, with Rankovic giving her side a 20-14 lead with a block from Uribe.

Serbia and Montenegro then gave themselves a lifeline with set point at 24-18, which they took at the third attempt.

Peru were in no mood to surrender their advantage, however, and led 8-6 at the first TTO after two fantastic last-gasp saves by Moy allowed Romanova to smash home the winner.

But Spasojevic and Brizitka Molnar turned the screw with some big spikes, forcing Serbia and Montenegro into a 19-12 lead.

The momentum was with the Europeans, and a missed Peruvian spike gave Serbia and Montenegro set point at 24-14.

Chihuan staved off the clincher point with a spike, but Molnar eventually brought Serbia and Montenegro level by taking the fourth set 25-16.

The face of the game had changed completely.

Serbia and Montenegro sensed the match was theirs for the taking, and a serve into the net by Peru's Keldibekova summed up the shift in power.

But Peru settled back into their rhythm and went in search of the win, clawing back a Serbia and Montegro lead to within one point at 10-9.

Rankovic was a huge obstacle in their way, however, and she served for the match at 14-10.

Citakovic spiked long, and Molnar could not convert the next point, bringing Peru back into the reckoning.

A Chihuan block then levelled the scores at 14-14, sending the Peruvian crowd wild.

An amazing tie-break then saw Serbia and Montenegro squander another eleven match points, and Peru two, before a missed return from Peru set the seal on an incredible Serbia and Montenegro comeback.