The women’s volleyball team is set to wrap up its inaugural participation in the CEV Golden European League during the upcoming third tournament in Kaposvár, Hungary, from Friday to Sunday.

After securing their first win against Azerbaijan in Bratislava, coach Jovo Caković’s young squad is gearing up for two pivotal matches, which the coach believes will provide invaluable lessons.

“The final weekend of the regular season in the Golden League is upon us. I am anticipating improvements compared to the first two weekends. It would bring me great joy to see us achieve a positive outcome. The key focus is to elevate our performance relative to the previous tournament in Slovakia,” coach Jovo Caković stated.

The first challenge will be against the host nation, Hungary. A regular competitor in the European Championships since 2015, Hungary has only lost to Slovenia and currently boasts a record of 3-1 in a group of four teams. This match is scheduled for Friday, June 13, at 6 p.m.

The following day, the “reds” are set to face off against a familiar opponent, Portugal. This team faced Montenegro twice in the CEV Silver European League two seasons ago, and they met again in the third-place match last year. Montenegro managed to secure one victory, winning 3-0 at SC “Igalo,” which propelled them to the final tournament of the competition in 2023.

Portugal, also making its debut in the Golden League, shares a similar record with Montenegro, having one win and three losses following a 3-1 victory over Slovenia.

With just two rounds remaining, only Ukraine is at a perfect 4%, while leading the charge towards the final tournament in Angelholm are Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and Hungary, each with three wins. The Swedes, as the host nation, have already secured a spot in the top tier of the tournament.

“We’ve had ample time to recover and prepare for what lies ahead. We continue to give our utmost without pressure, but with a competitive spirit and strategic gameplay. I believe we have a solid chance to achieve more victories and finish our Golden League journey on a high note. The team has been refreshed, and this experience is invaluable for all of us. We’re delighted to be working with our new coach and coaching staff, promising guaranteed progress,” remarked national team player Marija Šušić.

Coach Caković will retain the same squad that competed in Bratislava, consisting of 14 players.

Technicians: Marija Šušić and Viktoria Đukić.

Service Recipients: Nevena Vukčević, Teodora Čavić, Gordana Madžgalj, and Darja Popović.

Concealers: Nikoleta Perović and Kristina Božović.

Middle Blockers: Saška Đurović, Mina Dragović, Katarina Budrak, and Lana Rakočević.

Libero: Ksenija Krunic and Milica Velickovic.

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