Montenegro’s Women’s Volleyball Team Secures Historic First Qualification for the European Championship
Montenegro’s women’s volleyball team, Photo: OSCG
A remarkable milestone for Montenegrin volleyball – the women’s national team has qualified for the European Championship for the first time ever.
The national squad triumphed over Bosnia and Herzegovina with a score of 5:3 (0:26, 24:25, 16:26) in the 24th round of qualifying group D, marking a historic achievement in women’s volleyball.
After five rounds, Montenegro leads the group with seven points, while Latvia follows with six points. The champions of the seven qualifying groups, along with the five best second-placed teams, will secure spots for the championship. This victory ensures Montenegro’s place among the top five second-placed teams from the seven qualifying groups. On Sunday in Kolašin, the volleyball team will face Latvia to determine the group winner.
Montenegro initially led 4:1 in the first set, but then the situation shifted. Bosnia and Herzegovina evened the score with four points, taking the lead at 5:4 and then running up a 6:0 streak to reach a significant 13:7 advantage.
The home team maintained a six-point lead three times (15:9, 16:10, and 18:12), but Montenegro rallied back, closing the gap to 21:20 and ultimately turning the first set around to win.
The second set was competitive only at the start until it reached 7:7, after which Montenegro surged ahead to a 10:7 lead and extended it to plus six at 16:10 with five consecutive points.
This allowed Jovo Caković’s team to comfortably finish the second set.
In the third set, Montenegro led 12:9, but Bosnia and Herzegovina managed to take the lead at 16:14. Montenegro fought back to gain a 19:17 advantage, but another turnaround by BiH brought the score first to 20:19 and then 22:20. Montenegro tied it at 22:22, securing a fantastic victory.
Captain Nikoleta Perović led the team with an outstanding 24 points. She was supported by middle blockers Saška Đurović with eight points and Mina Dragović with four, while Simona Petranović contributed five points. For the home side, Jovana Biberdžić was the top scorer with 13 points.
The 2026 European Championship will take place in Azerbaijan, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Turkey.
Turkey is the reigning champion.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MONTENEGRO 0:3 (24:26, 16:25, 24:26)
Gorazde – SC “Mirsad Hurić”. Attendance: 1550. Officials: Nurper Orzbar (Turkey) and Alen Mateizer (Romania).
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Paradžik 6, Zekić, Isanović 12, Marković, Brašnić (libero), Glibić, Stevanović 1, Lasić 8, Music (libero), Biberdžić 13, Djukić, Vukoje, Starhonić, Ambulija 6.
Coach: Danilo Pejović.
Montenegro: Đurović 8, Tvrdišić, Perović 24, Cenović (libero), Šušić 1, Čavić 2, Madžgalj, Petranović 5, Vukčević, Rakoćević, Popović, Budrak, Krunić (libero), Dragović 4.
Coach: Jovo Caković.
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