After the men's U18 volleyball team secured a place in the second round of qualifications for the 2026 European Championship in Podgorica, the zonal CEV qualifying tournament awaits our young women's team.
The selection led by Milan Milošević, after 10 days of preparation in Stara Pazova, will travel to Sofia, where the competition for one direct place at the European Championship in Latvia and Lithuania next summer and four more in the second round of qualifications in March will be held from January 13th to 17th.
Coach Milošević has determined a list of 14 players who will be available for the matches against Greece, Bulgaria and Kosovo in the group, and Elena Jovanović and middle blocker Marta Jauković will not travel with the team due to a shoulder injury.
The list includes: technicians: Nađa Peković (Budućnost Volley) and Staša Jovović (Luka Bar); service receivers: Lina Milivojević (MÁV Elore, Hungary), Elena Čolaković (Budva), Klara Đukić (Budućnost Volley) and Jelena Ćorović (Gimnazijalac); correctors: Anastasija Koprivica (Budućnost Volley) and Đina Lekić (Budva); middle blockers: Andrea Glavanović (Galeb), Mitra Gudelj (Mediterranean), Sofija Duletić and Bojana Krasnići (Budva) and liberos: Lara Tošić (Budućnost Volley) and Sara Striković (Galeb).
During the training in the city of OK Jedinstvo, the selection was assisted by the coach of the former Serbian champion and the coach of the Montenegrin senior women, Jovo Caković, and Milan Milošević was assisted in his work by assistant Luka Bogojević, fitness coach Jovan Ristić, psychologist Andrea Laković, and statistician Mateja Ristić.
"The ten-day preparations took place in a working atmosphere. The girls were treated well, they were hardworking and the progress is noticeable. Two control matches were played with the Serbian national team and with the first league team Banovci from Serbia. The result was not in the foreground, but a current cross-section of the level we are at was made. The team faces three challenging matches in the group, from which we expect a good approach and energy," said Milošević before the trip to Sofia.
The young Montenegrin team is in Group B and will open the tournament at the "Hristo Botev" stadium in Sofia on Tuesday, January 13, with a match against Greece at 14 p.m. The following day at 16:30 p.m. they will meet the host of the zonal qualifying tournament, and the last rival in the group is Kosovo on Thursday at 14 p.m. Group A includes Serbia, Turkey and Romania, the two best teams from each will advance to the semi-finals, as well as the second round of qualifications, which will also include the fifth-place finisher, and only the tournament winner will advance directly to the Championship.
At the tournament in Sofia, Montenegrin volleyball will be represented by an international referee, Jelena Mitrović, who has been delegated to the referee team for the competition.
Bonus video:
