The volleyball event in Budva, culminating in the Cup finals, left a lasting impression on Rastko Milenković, the coach of Budva and the Montenegrin national team.

The energy in the stands, the significance and influence of the spectators close to the court, along with the unpredictability of the match during the final against Budućnost, all contributed to the excitement of Volleyball Sunday in Budva, held on March 30, 2025.

In the presence of Roko Sikirić, the head of European volleyball, and many esteemed guests from across Europe and the region, Budva managed to defend the Cup Winners’ Cup, albeit conceding a set for the first time this season.

This set was claimed by the resilient players of Budućnost, who put up a strong fight, even without their star player, Ivan Zvicer.

“The atmosphere was fantastic, and the stands were filled. I anticipated something like this since the event had been heavily promoted for days, and the Volleyball Federation put in a lot of effort to ensure everything was of the highest standard. Last year in Bijelo Polje, the stands were packed, and the environment was vibrant; this was an even greater level, especially considering the significance of the attendees at the final,” said Rastko Milenković in an interview with odbojka.me.

A true final requires two competitive teams, and this year’s showdown in Budva certainly delivered that.

“It was challenging, particularly the third set, which was closely contested and ultimately lost. We made several service errors that gifted our opponents easy points, but Budućnost also played very competitively. They are always tough to face; we really had to give it our all,” Milenković added.

More matches like this, against tougher opponents, would be advantageous for Budva’s players.

“Who wouldn’t want that? Progress comes through such matches. In our league, due to the disparity in quality, most matches have been played by cadets and juniors. This benefits them as they develop in volleyball. However, facing teams like Budućnost and Mornar, who are significantly stronger, is crucial for us experienced players. Our most recent competitive match with the full squad before the Cup final was back in October in the CEV Cup against Finnish team Valepa. Recently, we’ve also prepared with our strongest lineup through test matches against Albania’s Partizani,” Milenković explained.

However, everything is set to change in the upcoming season. Budva will compete in the regional MEVZA league, which promises a host of challenging matches and high-caliber opponents.

“The MEVZA League will be incredibly significant for us; we’ve been aiming for a regional competition for several years, and now our wish is finally becoming reality. We will face many strong rivals—there will be no more ‘one-sided’ matches, and that’s fantastic for us as players, our club, and Montenegrin volleyball as a whole. Who wouldn’t be excited about competing against teams from Slovenia, Croatia, Austria…? I believe the MEVZA League will also elevate the quality of our domestic league,” emphasized 21-year-old Rastko Milenković.

His younger brother, Vasilije, a serve receiver for Budvani, is identified as one of the brightest prospects in Montenegrin volleyball.

What is it like to play alongside your brother?

“We’ve been teaming up for nearly our entire lives. However, there’s no favoritism towards each other on the court, no special treatment,” the 21-year-old setter replied with a grin.

“I always opt for the best play. So, on the court, we aren’t just brothers.”

Rastko Milenković has been part of the Montenegrin national team for several years, making his debut in the qualifiers for the last European Championship and competing in the final tournament against the Czech Republic, Denmark, and North Macedonia.

Those were serious teams with serious matches, and I have fond memories of that championship, especially the victory over Denmark. The Czech Republic operates at a higher level than us, while Denmark and North Macedonia are on par with us. We lost to North Macedonia 3:0, partly due to their lively crowd, which boosted their performance, whereas we were two years younger and perhaps inexperienced.

The maturation of this promising generation of Montenegrin volleyball players will be overseen by new coach Ivica Jevtić, with the first gathering scheduled for next month, aiming at the new competition—the Golden European League.

“I can’t wait—meeting the new coach and coaching staff, and competing against strong opponents in the European league will be tremendously beneficial for us. We’re also focused on the end of the European Championship qualifiers, even though realistically our chances of qualifying are slim. However, those matches will serve as excellent preparation for upcoming events, including potentially playing in our country for the next European Championship. I genuinely believe that exciting developments are happening, and that the future of Montenegrin volleyball is bright,” Rastko Milenković concluded.

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