Montenegrin volleyball players lost to Romania in their debut in the Golden League

Montenegrin volleyball players failed to cause a surprise at the opening of the CEV Golden European League, as they were defeated by the hosts of the opening tournament in Romania 3:0 (25:19, 25:16, 25:19).

The seventh-placed selection from the last European Championship was too much for the already rejuvenated team, shaken by injuries, and on whose bench coach Ivica Jevtić made his debut.

Although it opened the match well, our team lost its rhythm in the middle of the first set, when Romania made a five-point run and went to 14:10 on Barta's serve. Our team managed to reduce the deficit to -2, after the 40th point of the first set, but did not win more than 19 points, as Romania concluded the first part of the match with four consecutive points and led 25:19.

Almost identical development of the situation in the first half of the second set, Romania again made a 5:0 run and escaped to a five-point lead, 15:10, and by the end of the set our guys managed to win only six more points.

As in the second set, Montenegro opened the third set with two consecutive points, but soon fell behind, from which they managed to pull out with a 4:0 run, at 11:11, as the players reacted well to Jevtić's time-out. However, they were unable to turn the tables, and the home team's deficit, which they chased until the end of the match, gradually grew, reaching a maximum of +6 at the end, 25:19.

The most efficient player in our team was the corrector Đorđe Jovović with eight points, while Budva players Vasilije Milenković and captain Luka Babić each scored five. In the Romanian ranks, Čitigoj scored 16 points, Raca scored 11, and Barta scored one less.

The Montenegrin seniors will face their next match tomorrow, as they will play Latvia in the tournament in Mioveni, also at 18.30:13 p.m. local time. At the end of next week, Montenegro and Podgorica will host the second tournament, where our national team will play the Czech Republic and Finland, on June 16 and 20, respectively, and the tournament competition will end with a tournament in Strumica, from June 22 to XNUMX, where they will play North Macedonia and Israel.

ROMANIA - MONTENEGRO 3:0 (25:19, 25:16, 25:19)

Mioveni - Sports Center “Mioveni”. Spectators: 300. Referees: Peter Sabo (Hungary), Aleksandar Vinaliev (Bulgaria).

Romania: Barta 10, Peta, Konstantin, Dumitru, Balean, Magdas, Kosinski (libero), Bala 7, Raca 11, Butnaru, Kantor (libero), Lupu 6, Ionescu, Chitigoy 16. Coach: Sergiu Stancu.

Montenegro: Ćinćur 4, Babić 5, Peruničić 1, Hadžisalihović, M. Joksimović 2, A. Joksimović (libero), V. Milenković 5, R. Milenković 1, Lečić, Lojić, Jovović 8, Rovčanin 2, Đurović, Radević (libero). Coach: Ivica Jevtić.