Montenegro Cruises Past Albania 3-0 in CEV European League Opener

The Montenegro women’s national volleyball team made an impressive start to the second tournament of the 2026 CEV Volleyball European League, defeating Albania in straight sets (3-0) on Saturday, June 13, at the Alba Blaj Hall in Blaj, Romania.

Led by head coach Jovo Caković, Montenegro controlled the match from start to finish, securing victory in just over an hour with set scores of 25-14, 25-11, and 25-18.

Montenegro quickly established its dominance in the opening set. After a closely contested start and a narrow 7-5 lead, the Montenegrin side produced a decisive 6-0 run before adding two separate 4-0 streaks to comfortably claim the set 25-14.

The second set was even more one-sided. Although Albania scored the first point, Montenegro responded immediately with six consecutive points and continued to build momentum. Their powerful serving and organized defense left Albania struggling to find rhythm, as the lead stretched to 20-5 before Montenegro wrapped up the set 25-11.

With the match firmly under control, coach Caković rotated his squad in the third set, giving several younger players valuable international experience. Despite the changes, Montenegro maintained its intensity and closed out the contest 25-18 to complete a convincing 3-0 victory.

For Albania, the defeat represents a difficult start to the second phase of the European League campaign. The Albanian squad showed determination throughout the match but was unable to match Montenegro’s efficiency in attack and consistency from the service line.

Montenegro now turns its attention to the remainder of the tournament, with important matches ahead against Romania, Kosovo, and Hungary as they continue their push for qualification.

Montenegro’s Upcoming Matches

* June 14, 2026: Montenegro vs Romania * June 19, 2026: Montenegro vs Kosovo * June 20, 2026: Montenegro vs Hungary

The victory places Montenegro in a strong position early in the tournament, while Albania will look to regroup quickly and bounce back in its upcoming fixtures.