The Montenegrin women’s pioneer volleyball team traveled to Sofia in the middle of the month for a pre-qualification tournament for the European Championship and through five matches with teams from the region, some of which are world superpowers, set new “standards” when it comes to our volleyball in the younger age categories.

The victory over Serbia resonated – the first that any Montenegrin team has ever achieved against Serbia, but also the triumphs over Romania and Greece, and the great game and defeat in the fifth set by the hosts Bulgaria.

Passing the second round of European Championship qualifiers ultimately came as a reward for Petar Koković’s team.

“Great energy and unity, that’s what made the difference, brought us great victories, the first against such teams so far,” Koković summed up his impressions in an interview with the official website of the Volleyball Federation (odbojka.me).

Energy and unity, but behind that – talent and quality…

“There is no doubt that this is one of the most promising generations, made up of girls who are just at the beginning of their journey and who have yet to show what they are ready for,” adds Koković.

Everything, he points out, pointed to a successful mission in Bulgaria from the beginning.

“We had phenomenal preparations and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro, which provided us with fantastic conditions. From January 2 to 14, we stayed in Stara Pazova, the city of volleyball, training at the Football House. The fact that Nikola Jokić was preparing for the Olympic Games there, and that all of Serbia’s volleyball teams are preparing there, speaks volumes about the conditions we had for our preparations,” Koković points out.

And not only that…

“Montenegro senior national team coach Jovo Caković, who is the coach of Stara Pazova, was a true host to us, he was there at every training session, a great help both on and off the field. I would also like to highlight my associates, Nikola Radomirović and psychologist Andrea Laković. All together we were a true unit, led by the players, who are the most deserving.”

Koković, as expected, did not want to talk about the players individually.

“We have pearls and we don’t want to stop – that’s all I can say about ‘individuals’. I believe we have only taken the first step.”

And next is – an attempt to qualify for the European Championship. Montenegro will be in one of the groups of four teams in April, the first two places, and possibly even third with a good performance, will advance to the finals.

It would be a feat, but not an unrealistic achievement.

“We don’t want to and can’t promise anything, Montenegro is a small country, we will face strong teams that have a large, much larger base, but I believe in my girls,” Koković points out.

He didn’t want to single out any player, the pearl is the whole team, and in Sofia it consisted of Nađa Peković, Staša Jovović, Elena Jovanović, Mia Podjanin, Sara Striković, Jana Mrdak, Jelena Ćorović, Klara Đukić, Minja Mišević, Sofija Duletić, Bojana Krasnići, Jelena Glušac, Anđela Rajović and Andrijana Moračanin.

Before the second round of qualifying for the European Championship, which is scheduled for the end of April, the women’s pioneer team will face a strong tournament in Italy starting on February 20th, and these matches will be a real test before the April “final”.

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