Kosovo Women delivered a stunning upset on the road, sweeping Montenegro Women 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-23) in the European League Women on 19 June 2026. The victory marked Kosovo’s first away sweep in the competition and demonstrated their growing competitiveness in European volleyball.

Match Overview

Montenegro entered the match as slight favorites, playing at home and with a more experienced roster. However, Kosovo’s high-energy game plan disrupted Montenegro’s offense from the first whistle. The visitors executed a disciplined serving strategy, targeting Montenegro’s primary passer, and built a 16-12 lead in the opening set. Montenegro fought back to 21-20, but Kosovo’s outside hitter Blerta Luta delivered two crucial spikes to close the set.

Momentum Shift

The second set saw Kosovo race to an early 9-3 advantage, fueled by three consecutive blocks from middle blocker Vesa Hyseni. Montenegro’s head coach called an early timeout, but the home side could not close the gap. Kosovo’s defense, anchored by libero Elsa Ramadani, dug 14 balls in the set alone, frustrating Montenegro’s attackers. The set ended 25-19 after an ace by sether Dafina Gashi.

The third set was the tightest, featuring nine ties. Montenegro, desperate to avoid a sweep, pushed to a 23-21 lead. But Kosovo refused to fold. Luta scored two straight kills, and a service error by Montenegro gave Kosovo set point. A perfectly timed block by Hyseni sealed the match, sending the Kosovo bench into celebration.

Key Contributors

• Blerta Luta (Kosovo) – Led all scorers with 18 points (15 kills, 2 aces, 1 block). Her composure in clutch moments was decisive.
• Vesa Hyseni (Kosovo) – Registered 9 blocks, the highest of the match, disrupting Montenegro’s middle attack.
• Marija Milović (Montenegro) – Top scorer for her team with 14 points, but struggled with a 32% efficiency under Kosovo’s defensive pressure.

Impact and Next Steps

The result shakes up the European League Women group standings. Kosovo now sits at 3-3, while Montenegro drops to 3-3 as well, creating a tight race for playoff spots. For Kosovo, this win proves they can compete with more established teams, especially when their serve and block are firing. Montenegro will need to address their pass-and-attack cohesion before their next fixture against Bosnia.

Kosovo’s triumph in Podgorica will be remembered as a statement performance—a team on the rise, determined to leave their mark on the European stage.