The Spanish volleyball team justified its role as favorites against Montenegro in our team's debut in the CEV Golden League - 3:0 (25:20, 25:16, 25:17).
Jovo Caković's team, in the debut match of the new coach, matched their rivals in the Podgorica "Vocco" hall only at the beginning, when they went from five consecutive points from 0:2 to 5:2, everything else was a "fury".
Spain quickly found a rhythm against a weakened Montenegro (most importantly, Danijela Džaković and Simona Petranović were missing). Caković made frequent changes during the match, looking for the ideal lineup, but Spain was simply stronger.
"This is the second level of volleyball, Spain is better than us in most positions, and they deserved to win. We could have played all night, with this composition of forces we couldn't have won today. Maybe I expected a few more points, possibly a set, I expected us to show a little more fight. Unfortunately, that's our situation and if we are good students, we will learn. I don't consider this a defeat, but a lesson, even when we applied to play in the Golden League, we were aware that we were not competitive for a good placement, but to learn from the best," said Caković after the match.
The most efficient player in our team was Nikoleta Perović with 11 points, while Mina Dragović and Saška Đurović scored five each. For Spain, the most points were scored by Maria Segura - 13.
On the second day of the tournament, on Saturday, Spain will play against Ukraine, which will be Montenegro's rival on Sunday, June 1, also at 18 p.m.
"It's too early to talk about Ukraine, we first need to raise the level of our game, in various phases. We won't give up, we will learn, and you will see in a few months, when the time comes, how we will grow. This must not sway us," Caković emphasized.
SPAIN - MONTENEGRO 3:0 (25:20, 25:16, 25:17)
Podgorica - SC “Verde”. Spectators: 700. Referees: Batkai-Katona (Hungary), Stoika (Romania).
Spain: Priante 2, Mavromatis, Ernandes, Pisa (lib), Aranda, De Paula 4, Varela 12, Ljabres (lib), Šlegel 5, Eskamilja 3, Himenes 8, Lazaro, Fernandes 11, Segura 13. Selector: Paskual Saurin.
Montenegro: Đurović 5, Perović 11, Šušić, Čavić 1, Madžgalj, Veličković (libero), Božović, Vukčević 3, Popović 2, Budrak, Đukić, Krunić (libero), Dragović 5, Kovačec. Coach: Jovo Caković.
Bonus video:
