10/09/2020 15:14
Team Montenegro start preparations for #EuroVolleyU17W on home soil
CEV U17 Volleyball European Championship 2020
Podgorica, Montenegro, September 10, 2020. The members of the women’s U17 national team of Montenegro convened on Wednesday at the VOCO Hotel in Podgorica, and after undergoing medical checks, they will now start their preparations for the Final Round of #EuroVolleyU17W due to run in the Montenegrin capital from October 1 to 9, 2020.
The Secretary General of the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro (OSCG), Ivan Bošković, addressed a few words to the young players hoping to represent the Balkan country at the continental event in early October. The OSCG confirmed earlier this month their readiness to organise the championship in compliance with strict hygiene and health protocols to prevent, as much as possible, any risk of infection from the novel coronavirus.
“This year’s gathering was a little different than usual, with the players wearing masks and respecting social distancing, but these are all things we have become familiar with since a few months. All the girls we have invited have responded positively except for Tijana Vulanovic from Niksic, who announced her absence due to private reasons, so Marija Stanisic from Kotor has taken her place. After a mandatory medical check, we will start our training sessions. We have about 20 days to prepare as good as we can for the upcoming matches,” said Zlatko Cacic, the head coach of the Montenegrin U17 national team.
Montenegro will play in Pool I against the national teams of Italy, Slovenia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Slovakia.
“After several months without any Volleyball due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are joining this camp with great enthusiasm and positive energy. I believe that we will use this period in the best possible way to prepare for the upcoming European Championship. Of course, our goal is to meet the expectations of the professional staff, people from the Federation and the fans. I hope that we will succeed with a lot of work and patience and that we will achieve the best possible result at the tournament,” said player Majda Cakar.
The group includes the following players:
Setters: Stasa Krivokapic (Galeb), Andrea Krgovic (Jedinstvo Franca), Ines Hodzic (Luka Bar)
Opposites/Outside spikers: Tijana Milacic (Moraca), Natalija Vlaovic (Galeb), Marija Stanisic (Gimnazijalac), Anja Popovic (Akademija), Sanja Rudan (Moraca), Majda Cakar (Rudar), Teodora Leovac (Rudar), Anastasija Manojlović (Mediteran Bemax)
Middle blockers: Masa Dragojevic (Galeb), Nadja Popovic (Moraca), Jana Cetkovic (Budućnost), Mia Raznatović (Luka Bar)
Liberos: Jovana Tosic (Moraca), Milica Velickovic (Jedinstvo Franca), Anastasija Smolovic (Luka Bar)
Assistant coaches Ivica Scekic and Sonja Banicevic will help head coach Cacic, Predrag Djonović will be the team manager and Vladimir Dragojevic the physiotherapist working with the group.
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