The Montenegrin men's volleyball team ended its debut appearance in the CEV Golden European League with six losses.
Ivica Jevtić's young team, whose oldest member in the last two tournaments was 25 years old, lost in the last game of the tournament in Strumica to the hosts, North Macedonia, 3:0 (25:20, 25:21, 25:13) and thus finished last in the elite rank of the CEV competition.
From the start of the match at the "Park" sports hall in Strumica, it was clear that this was practically a knockout match, just like in Skopje, in the group of the 2023 European Championship, and the fall in the final sets cost our team survival in the Golden League, for which it needed a victory.
The home team mostly controlled the events on the court in the first set, in which Montenegro managed to create uncertainty by pressing until the score was tied at 19:19. However, the team coached by Milenkoski played better, winning six of the last seven points by the end of the set and taking a 25:20 lead.
It seemed that the answer could come later, as Jovović and his teammates opened the second set well, leading 5:2, then increasing the lead to +4, the last time to 12:8, when the Macedonians' series followed, a comeback, the first tie at 15:15, then a reversal at 17:15, since when our national team was in pursuit of their rival. And again, when it seemed that Montenegro would manage to come back, at 18:18, the hosts' series 4:0, after which there was no turning back. The opponents took advantage of the first set point and took a step towards victory with 25:21.
The missed chance to get back into the match discouraged our young team, which was in the game in the third set during the opening ten points. Then the rival played its best, winning points in series, and in the end secured survival in the Golden League with a convincing 25:13.
Corrector Jovović was the most efficient with 14 points, and Peruničić also scored in double figures with 11 points. Matija Ćinćur scored seven. For North Macedonia, Nikola Gjorgijev scored 16 points, while Ljaftov scored 12.
Our national team failed to achieve a single victory in six games, and finished last in the CEV Golden League. It won a point in the match against Latvia.
After six rounds, undefeated Israel, as well as Greece and Finland, with five wins each, along with the host Czech Republic, who had a half-hearted score, will play in the final tournament of the Golden League, in Brno, on July 5th and 6th.
MONTENEGRO - NORTH MACEDONIA 0:3 (25:20, 21:25, 13:25)
Strumica - SD “Park”. Spectators: 1000. Judges: Tomislav Popović (Serbia), Josip Hristov (North Macedonia).
Montenegro: Dubak, Ćinćur 7, Peruničić 11, Hadžisalihović 2, M. Joksimović, A. Joksimović (libero), V. Milenković, R. Milenković, Lečić, Lojić, Jovović 14, Rovčanin 1, Đurović 3, Radević (libero). Coach: Ivica Jevtić.
North Macedonia: G. Gjorgijev 3, Efremov, N. Gjorgijev 16, Milev 4, Arsov, Ljaftov 12, Lepidovski 5, E. Ričlijev, Arapov (libero), S. Ilijev, Kostić 2, K. Ilijev, K. Ričlijev (libero), Savovski 9. Coach: Joško Milenkoski.
Bonus video:
