If you want the title, call Melissa.

Call Melissa if you want the title - it's almost become an unwritten rule in Montenegrin volleyball.

Representative Melissa Cenovic She won the championship cup with Herceg Novi, which is her incredible 13th title on the domestic scene, writes odbojka.me.

No one has such an impressive record, neither in the men's nor in the women's competition: she won nine while playing for Luka Bar, and after returning from abroad, she added four more while wearing the Herceg Novi jersey.

And not only that - every season she started on the domestic stage, she ended it with a title.

For the 27-year-old libero of our national team, there is almost no idle time.

- I didn't think too much about it, but when I look back, it's definitely something to be proud of. And there's nothing to hide, it's a good feeling. When I just remember that I was 14 years old when I won my first title with Luka Bar, I became a national team player at a very young age - recalls Melisa.

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The Montenegrin national team's libero Melisa Cenović won the title of champion of Montenegro - nine with Luka Bar, four for Herceg Novi. She is the absolute record holder on the domestic scene

The last title in the series, won at the end of April by winning the final series against Luka Bar, is one of the most difficult, admits Melisa.

- It wasn't easy, even though the final score was 3:0. We won two matches in five sets. It was a tough and challenging season, the level of quality also rose, we had a worthy rival in the Luka Bar team, Buducnost also made a big step forward, Morača and other teams were there. Everyone rose, but that gives this title even greater significance. In the end, Luka Bar won the Super Cup, Buducnost the Cup, and we won the championship, we shared the trophies, and that speaks volumes - says Melisa Cenović.

The defeat in the final of the Cup against Buducnost was a good warning.

- I can't say that it didn't shake us up, but it definitely helped us before the end of the championship. Because, the final is the final, we lost it in five sets and we asked ourselves a lot; we pulled ourselves together, worked even harder, even though we worked hard all season, which bore fruit. I definitely didn't expect that we would solve the final series in just three matches, it's no secret that we have a much older team than the others, and the turnaround from 0:2 to 3:2 that we made in the second match is definitely the best thing we did this season - says Melisa.

After nine seasons spent with the home team of Luka Bar, she moved to Romanian Voluntari in 2021, and played the 2022/23 season in Croatian Marina Kaštel.

By chance, she returned to Montenegro and continued to conquer.

"Just as I was about to go outside, I came back," she says with a smile.

It was not, however, an ordinary return.

- I got an invitation from Herceg Novi, a nice story was created, a good team, we played in the Champions League and it was almost on the same level as abroad. I have good conditions and I feel good in my team.

Melisa Cenović will welcome the upcoming national team summer in the Herceg Novi jersey, which she will most likely wear next season as well.

It will be the summer she says she has been waiting for her entire life.

- I've been wearing the national team jersey for 13 years now and I've never been this excited. The Europa League awaits us, then the European Championship - the pinnacle of my career, not only mine, but also all of my teammates'.

Preparations for the Europa League, which will be played in a new format and will be a qualifier for the next championship, begin on Monday.

- The Europa League will be very difficult in the new system, there are a lot of strong teams, our selection has been further rejuvenated, but I believe we will have something to show. We will have to give our maximum in every match, in every training session.

And then comes the climax. August brings EuroVolley and duels with world superpowers: Italy, France, group hosts Sweden, and Croatia and Slovakia.

- We are going to Sweden without any burden, such a competition is a great reward and bonus for all of us. We are not expecting anything, but we are preparing hard - and it will be a pleasure to represent our country on such a stage - concluded Melisa Cenović.