Nikoleta Perović believes Montenegro is primed for the European Championship.

The seasoned player has expressed similar sentiments in February during her time with the club, reiterated them in May at the national team assembly, and now she stands by her words after nearly three months of training, matches, and collaboration with her teammates, the new coach, and the coaching staff.

“We are improving every day, everything is falling into place, and we are in good health – we have all the essentials. Now we also have the girls who did not participate in the Golden League with us, including Daca (Danijela Džaković), Meli (Melisa Cenović), and Simona (Petranović), so we are fully prepared and in a vibrant atmosphere for the final qualifying round and crucial matches,” says Nikoleta.

Montenegro will face Bosnia and Herzegovina on August 6th, followed by a match against Latvia in Kolašin four days later.

One victory will likely suffice, but Jovo Caković’s team is determined not to leave anything to chance – they aim to celebrate their top position in the European Championship with two significant wins.

“Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. Many previous generations fell short by a small margin, and I have been part of various teams that were so close. We are ready to fulfill the aspirations of all generations. The opposition was stronger in the past, and things were different; now the competitive landscape has shifted, and this time we possess everything required – against our opponents, but more importantly, within ourselves.”

Nikoleta has noticed tremendous progress in the best Montenegrin women’s team.

“Working with Jovo Caković and his coaching staff compared to previous times feels like a world apart. We’ve made substantial improvements since May when we last gathered. We are now in a system that focuses on significant goals, having already addressed all the necessary details and nuances essential to advance to the next level. This is truly the right team, ready to take the next step,” Nikoleta emphasizes.

Montenegro has faced tougher rivals than Bosnia and Herzegovina and Latvia during the Golden League, and also recently in friendly matches against Hungary.

“Hungary provided an excellent benchmark, being a European Championship-level team that reached the Golden League final. We have no intentions of underestimating Bosnia, our first opposition. I know we’ve played them in the past, but they now have a younger lineup with many new players. They also mention that the hall in Goražde is small and not particularly comfortable, and while we all prefer larger venues, the focus should be on adapting and securing a win,” asserts Nikoleta, who has recently joined the Italian team Roma.

About 20 days ago, Nikoleta Perović moved from Ankara, Turkey, to the capital of Italy – the “eternal city” – and will meet her new teammates only after fulfilling her national team commitments. She is optimistic about participating in the European Championship.

Nikoleta shared a personal note, highlighting the significance of this moment for her.

“I feel I owe a lot to the national team. Before this tournament, I had been absent for some time due to injury… Despite my lengthy involvement with the national team, something always held me back from performing at my peak. Therefore, this opportunity means a great deal to me. Participating in the European Championship is a chance to make up for lost time,” concluded Nikoleta Perović.

The top Montenegrin volleyball players will travel to Goražde on Monday, where they will play their first qualifying match on Wednesday, August 6, at 19:00. Coach Jovo Caković has selected the squad for that match.

The lineup includes: technicians: Marija Šušić and Tijana Tvrdišić; service receivers: Danijela Džaković, Simona Petranović, Teodora Čavić and Darja Popović; correctors: Nikoleta Perović and Nevena Vukčević; middle blockers: Saška Đurović, Mina Dragović, Katarina Budrak and Lana Rakočević; liberos: Melisa Cenović and Ksenija Krunić.

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