The semi-finals of the Women's Volleyball Cup are underway: First matches in Bar and Herceg Novi

The most massive competition in Montenegrin volleyball is entering its finals – the first semi-final matches of the Montenegrin Women's Volleyball Cup will be played tomorrow, and four coastal teams will compete for the grand final. The first matches will be played in Bar and Igalo.

Last season's finalist, the team from Luka Bar, has a rival, a debutant in the strongest Montenegrin volleyball league, the team from Budva. Vladimir Milačić's team won the only meeting between these teams this season in the EPCG Super League with a score of 3:0, also in Topolica, where the first semi-final match of the Cup will be played at 17 pm. In his own style, the head coach of the "siren" announced that his team is ready for the challenge.

"We are ready to welcome the young and promising team from Budva. I hope we will take the first step towards the Cup final," Milačić was brief.

Filip Jevtović, who recently made his debut on the Budva bench, pointed out that the historic double-header for Budva is a big step forward for the club.

"They are one of the main favorites, not only for the Cup trophy, but also for the highest ranking in the EPCG Super League. We are a very young team that has been weakened in the meantime by the departure of several important players and currently with several injuries. Also, for us, this is the first Cup semi-final in the club's history, so this two-match match with Luka Bar will, above all, serve to gain new experience that will further serve to develop and progress our young players. We enter the match completely unburdened, with the desire to provide the best possible game, and we will look for an opportunity in the second leg in front of our audience," said Jevtović.

The second pair brings the Novi derby, which marked the 2023 Cup final, in which Herceg Novi won the first trophy in the club's history. Now defending its second trophy in a row, the owner of the double crown will have the first obstacle in its home stadium as a guest, where it will play Albatros at 20 p.m.

Albatros is playing very well this season and hopes to challenge the previously undisputed ruler of Montenegrin volleyball, who lost their first match since becoming a member of the EPCG Super League in the first round of the season, away to Buducnost. The Podgorica team was on Albatros' way to the semifinals.

"Regarding the first semi-final match of the Cup, bearing in mind that on the other side we have a much older, stronger and more experienced team from Herceg Novi, we will enter this semi-final fight as we do every Cup match. When we look back at the previous matches, each one was uncertain and difficult, especially the quarter-final with the team from Buducnost, where we showed that we can achieve anything when we want it enough and when we play as a real team that leaves its heart on the field. We viewed every step forward in this competition as if we had won the final. It is a great success for my young team to have reached the semi-finals," said Branka Obradović, proud of what has been done so far.

The match at SC Igalo will be the first of three in two weeks, as the city rivals will also meet in the EPCG Super League. The first league match went to Srđan Crnojački's team 3:0, and the young expert on the champions' bench believes that the audience will have something to see.

"I certainly expect interesting matches. A city derby is always a special game for which we are always motivated. As far as my team is concerned, we are all healthy, and most importantly, I will have all the players available, except Radišković, who I expect to be on the roster soon. We are slowly raising the level of play and we hope for a good outcome," said the Herceg Novi coach.

The Montenegrin Cup semi-finals will be played over two legs, without a winner, and if necessary, the winner of the two-leg match will be decided by a golden set. The second legs are scheduled for February 26th.