A surge of emotion and the feeling of take-off – Nadja Peković's Volleyball dreams
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Montenegro’s young setter and captain Nadja Peković speaks after a historic qualification for the Final Round of the U16 Women’s European Championship.
She and her teammates have lived their first big dream in the sport: becoming the first women’s national team in the Balkan country’s history to reach the final stage of a European Championship through qualification. And they are still dreaming – with eyes wide open.
At just 14 and 15 years old, these young athletes have already learned what commitment and quality mean. More than anything, they have come to believe in their ability, their bond, and the power of true teamwork. In the long run, sport is fair – you get what you give. And head coach Petar Koković’s squad gave it everything they had, especially at the second-round qualification tournament in Maribor, where they cruised to a place in the Final Round. And the reward? As good as it gets.
“Just the fact that we are the first Montenegrin women’s team to qualify for a European Championship – and to do it without dropping a single set – gives me an unbelievable sense of lift-off, and an emotional whirlwind I cannot even describe,” says team captain and setter Nadja Peković. “Honestly, we did not expect to win every match 3-0, but we went to Maribor in top physical shape, with strong will and the belief that we could give our maximum. And so we did.”
What was the key to their success? As always when a team steamrolls its group – even beating top-seeded hosts Slovenia – there were multiple factors. “The most important things were team spirit, unity, mutual understanding, and fighting for each other. That’s always what matters most – and we had all of it,” Peković explains.
The final 3-0 win over Slovenia was not just another result – it was a statement that these girls are even stronger than they thought.
Nadja Peković“Beating the hosts 3-0 was an incredible feeling. We played aggressively, we fought hard, even though we had already secured qualification. We proved we can hold our own against teams that, until recently, seemed way stronger than us. Now the European Championship is coming, and because of all this – my expectations are high.”
Setter of Team Montenegro
Montenegro will face Kosovo, Türkiye, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, and Slovenia again in Pool II, which will be played in Pristina. Asked to comment on the draw, Nadja doesn’t waste words – the real focus, she says, is on Montenegro and its self-belief. “I’m satisfied with the draw,” she says simply.
At just 15 years old, Peković is already a first-team player for Budućnost Volley, finalists in the EPCG Superliga for women. “I am very proud to be part of Budućnost’s senior team – the club where I took my very first volleyball steps. From my very first training session, I took Volleyball seriously, listened closely to my coaches, and tried to absorb all the advice and criticism I could. I’m really grateful to them – not just for their work, but for their patience also,” she adds.
She started playing at just seven and a half. “Even then, I had good physical traits – and apparently, some talent too. After just a few training sessions, I fell in love with Volleyball. It means so much to me. My wish is to play as much as I can, and my goal is to become one of the best. I don’t really have an idol, but I admire the style and play of Maja Ognjenović.”
Like Maja, Nadja is a setter – the brain of the team, orchestrating the play and bringing her teammates into the game. “When I started, I tried every position, but the coaches quickly recognised that I was best suited to be a setter – the organiser,” Nadja finishes.
End of the interview – but, in truth, just the beginning of something big.