The Montenegrin men's volleyball team failed to achieve its first victory in the CEV Golden European League, as it was defeated by its old rival, the Czech Republic, 3:0 (25:23, 25:22, 25:14) in the first match of the Podgorica tournament.
The team that the "reds" played with at all three European Championships, and which is also a rival of our selection in the current Eurovolley qualifiers, showed high quality, and after an even game in the opening eight points, they made a run and took a 7:4 lead. On Marko Joksimović's serve, Ivica Jevtić's team managed to come back, but were behind by the end of the set. Jovović and his teammates gradually closed the gap and, on today's captain's serve, caught up with the guests at 21:21, then at 22:22, however, they did not manage to win more than a point by the end of the set, which went to the Czech Republic 25:23.
The Czechs controlled the game well in the second set, but the regular attacks of our young team, which did not play the most experienced, 30-year-old middle blocker Luka Babić, due to injury, did not allow the rival to break free. Although the Czech Republic managed to lead by five points on several occasions, on the wings of Vasilije Milenković and Hadžisalihović, our team managed to extend the set, with the contribution of the youngest, Luka Lojić, who saved three set points, no more than that – the Czech Republic increased to 2:0 after 25:22.
The weakest start to the set was in the third part of the match, in which the Czech Republic gained a significant advantage early on. Coach Jevtić shuffled the cards, but failed to disrupt his rival, who used the first of 10 match points and won 25:14.
In the Montenegrin team, Đorđe Jovović was the only one in double figures with 10 points, young Vasilije Milenković had a good match, scoring nine, and Benjamin Hadžisalihović concluded the game with seven points.
For the Czech Republic, Marek František Peri scored 13 points.
Ahead of the match, middle blocker Matija Ćinćur was presented with the award for the best volleyball player of 2024 in the Montenegrin club competition by the President of the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro, Nikola Kažić, after the young player from Slovenian Alpacem Kanal missed the ceremony in Podgorica due to club commitments at the end of last year.
After a day of break, during which the Czech Republic and Finland will meet in the Verde Sports Hall of the complex, also at 19 p.m., our boys will play the Finns on Sunday, at the same time. The next rival, like the Czech Republic, will play at the upcoming World Cup in the Philippines in September.
MONTENEGRO - CZECH REPUBLIC 0:3 (23:25, 25:22, 14:25)
Podgorica: SC “Verde”. Attendance: 185. Referees: Siniša Ovuka (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Bernard Valentar (Slovenia).
Montenegro: Dubak, Ćinćur 4, Peruničić, Hadžisalihović 7, M. Joksimović 1, A. Joksimović (libero), V. Milenković 9, R. Milenković, Lečić, Lojić 4, Jovović 10, Rovčanin, Đurović 5, Radević (libero). Coach: Ivica Jevtić.
Czech Republic: Drahonovski 2, Zajiček 8, Monik (libero), Sabrt, Vašina 9, Licek 7, Brihta 3, Srb 3, Kovarik (libero), Biknar, Peri 13, Klimeš 7, Klajmon. Coach: Jirži Novak.
Bonus video:
