The Montenegrin women’s U16 volleyball team triumphed over Turkey with a score of 3:2 (34:32, 12:25, 28:26, 23:25, 15:13) in the sixth round of the group stage of the European Championship, marking their third victory in the competition held in Pristina.

This match showcased yet another stellar performance from our most skilled generation, who managed to defeat the 2023 European U17 runners-up in a challenging encounter, significantly bolstering their chances of qualifying for the World Cup.

The match commenced with an ideal start for the “reds.” They opened with an impressive six-point streak, courtesy of Sofija Duletić’s serve, swiftly leading to a 6:1 advantage, while maintaining a solid +6 lead even after 20 points.

However, Turkey soon responded, even taking the lead at times. Montenegro initially reached set points at 24:22 following a spike from Jana Mrdak. In a thrilling set, Koković’s team utilized only their eighth set point to secure the lead, 34:32, despite giving Turkey two opportunities to clinch the set.

In the final moments, our talented players exhibited determination and focus, earning a deserved lead.

Following the spectacular opening set, the Montenegrin team saw a drop in performance. After a 9:9 tie, they managed a lead of up to +3, but Petar Koković’s squad seemed to stall.

Turkey unleashed an astonishing 10:0 run, and Montenegro could only halt their scoring spree three times before Turkey equalized the set at 25:12.

This disappointing set did not deter our players, as their resolve eventually paid off. They played confidently in the third set, initially leading by as much as +3 (12:9), but faced a brief drop followed by a quick comeback. Turkey rallied with a 5:0 series, claiming a 22:18 lead, but Montenegro fought back.

After scoring four consecutive points, they reached their first set point at 24:23, leading to a tense situation. Our players had to stave off a rival set point, and with a remarkable block, they secured a third chance, which Klara Đukić converted into an ace for 28:26.

Montenegro was close to claiming their third victory in the tournament in four sets, although they encountered challenges in the fourth set. Turkey jumped to an early advantage of 10:3, compelling Montenegro to chase. They managed to equalize and even temporarily lead at 18:17 during a fiercely contested match.

Turkey excelled under pressure, heading towards a tie, aided by a service error from Nađa Peković, which led to a score of 25:23.

The demanding fourth set slowed Montenegro down, allowing Turkey to rack up a 4:1 lead, eventually expanding it to 8:4. However, another thrilling finish belonged to the “reds.” With Staša Jovović’s serve, a Turkish player faltered at the net, followed by a decisive spike from Sofija Duletić that secured victory. Montenegro achieved one of the biggest wins in women’s volleyball history with a score of 15:13.

Klara Đukić delivered an outstanding performance, finishing the match with 24 points. Sofija Duletić also played exceptionally well, scoring 19 points. Significant contributions came from Jana Mrdak with 16 points, Jelena Ćorović with 14 points, while Bojana Krasnić, Nađa Peković, and Mija Pođanin added eight, three, and one point, respectively.

With this victory, Montenegro has kept its chances alive to be among the six teams in the European Championship that will qualify for the World Cup, with hopes set on their next match against Slovenia scheduled for tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.

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