Sofija Duletić: Volleyball is my place of happiness

The placement at the U16 European Championship, the first in the history of Montenegrin women's volleyball, confirmed that all the sacrifices, all the effort, hours and hours of training, definitely made sense.

Sofija Duletić, middle blocker of our pioneer national team, volleyball player from Budva, is enjoying the feat she accomplished with her teammates, but her thoughts are already long in Pristina, where the finals of the continental championship will be held along with Tirana from July 2nd to 13th.

"The qualification brought us immense satisfaction and pride, because it is the first time that our country has qualified for the European Championship. We have realized how much we can do when we believe in ourselves, when we work dedicatedly and function as a real team. We are grateful to the selectors and the coaching staff of the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro for the trust and support they have shown," Sofija Duletić told odbojka.me.

"Success means a lot to us, because it confirms that the many sacrifices and trainings made sense. For all of us, this is the realization of a big dream."

Sofia and her teammates first shone – in Sofia. At the first round of the zonal qualifiers, which was played in Sofia at the beginning of January, Petar Koković's team showed all the splendor of their potential: they won a place in the second round of the qualifiers, which was historic in itself. And then came the tournament in Maribor, dominance and total spectacle, an explosion of talent – ​​Montenegro went to the Euro as the only selection from the second round that did not lose a set in three matches.

In this way - 3:0, the home team Slovenia, a strong national team that will be Montenegro's rival in Pristina, also fell.

"We expected to do better than in the first qualifiers, but in the end we surprised even ourselves. Qualifying for the European Championship without dropping a set is truly a huge success and an indication that we exceeded all expectations," points out Sofija.

There are several pieces to the "puzzle".

“The key factor was that the OSCG enabled us to prepare in top conditions in Stara Pazova. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the professional team – coaches Petar Koković and Nikola Radomirović, sports psychologist Andrea Laković, fitness coach Jovan Ristić, and scout Ognjen Marković. We would also like to especially highlight the A selection coach Jovo Caković, who gave us a lot of attention and support during the preparations. In addition to all that, our team was characterized by strong connections, good energy, and mutual trust,” says Sofija.

It has just begun...

"I expect even more fighting spirit and motivation at the European Championship than in the qualifiers. I believe that we will learn from every game, progress and enjoy every moment. It will be challenging, and that is why I am even more excited and ready. We are aware that we are facing strong opponents, but this is exactly the opportunity to show our worth."

Qualifying for the European Championship has already changed the careers of the young Montenegrin national team players, for the better of course...

"I would like to play volleyball professionally and one day play for the senior national team of Montenegro. My dream is to participate in as many major competitions as possible and achieve more successes like this."

Sofija started at OK Budva, whose jersey she still wears today.

"Thanks to dedicated coaches and great teammates, I fell in love with this sport. We have as many as six national team members in our pioneering team, which speaks to the exceptional working conditions at the club."

Middle blocker – closest to the net, a permanent threat to opposing teams.

"I've been training as a middle blocker since the very beginning. The coaches recognized that this position suited me best and over time I completely fell in love with it."

And so, step by step, Sofija Duletić pushes the boundaries, aware that nothing would be possible without the love for the sport she plays.

"Volleyball is my place of happiness - it's where I feel most at home. It brings me joy, strength and motivation. My role model is Tijana Bošković - her game is captivating, and the way she approaches every training session and match is an inexhaustible inspiration for me."