Simona Petranović and Nevena Vukčević are the great hopes of the Montenegrin national team in their quest for their first and historic place at the European Championship. They were born in the same year - 2003, in the same city - Bar, they grew up playing volleyball in the same club - Galeb, their international careers began in the same summer - 2021, and they spent seven seasons together, from the youngest categories, not counting the period in the national team.
A few days ago, as often happens in the unpredictable paths of sports, two friends found themselves - on opposite sides of the net, against each other.
In the duel of the 5th round of the regional MEVZA league in Nova Gorica, Nevena's GEN-I Volej from Slovenia and Simona's Zagreb Mladost from Croatia met.
- It was unusual, we looked at each other and laughed, even during the game - Simona tells Odbojka.me
- I knew he was going to serve me, but I prepared myself well - Nevena continues, with a smile.
Simonina Mladost celebrated in the fifth set - 15:12, after Nevena and her teammates missed a match point in the fourth. The dramatic match went to the better placed team, Mladost is preparing for the play-offs, GEN-I Volej lost its chance to advance.
- I didn't play much, my shoulder hurt, I only went in to serve - Simona Petranović points out.
To serve - on Nevena.
"We know each other so well that I knew which way each of her balls would go," adds Simona.
This, however, was not the first such "meeting" between the two of them.
- We've already met once, when she played for Ub and I played for Partizan - says Nevena Vukčević.
They had a similar path after leaving Galeb, Bar, and Montenegro in the summer of 2021. Both established themselves in Serbia, Simona then left Ub for Haifa, Israel, and Nevena for Lugož, Romania.
After not-so-pleasant volleyball experiences in Israel and Romania, they are now both enjoying each other, and they are only a three-hour drive away.
- I felt very depressed in Romania, not only because I mostly played alone, I didn't like leaving at all. It's completely different in Slovenia, the training is great, the coach knows a lot, and honestly, I would stay just for him, says Nevena Vukčević.
Simona's Israeli experience was different and more difficult. She had to leave because of the state of war...
- I was thrilled when I arrived. And I didn't feel like there was any danger coming. Once, after training, an alarm went off on my phone and on all my teammates' phones - it was an app that told me to run to the bunkers. I had to leave Israel, my family begged me to do it.
Nevena, unlike Simona, had a slight language barrier when she arrived in Slovenia.
- I have two roommates, Slovenians, I didn't understand them at first. After two months I finally told them: "Now you can't gossip about me anymore," says Nevena Vukčević.
The two will reunite in the summer, in the national team. Two decisive matches follow - away against Bosnia and Herzegovina, at home against Latvia. History is within reach - the first qualification of our women's national team to the European Championship.
- I have a feeling that usually doesn't deceive me - it's now or never - says Nevena.
Bonus video:
