Montenegro, playing in front of a passionate home crowd in Budva, made a statement on June 1 by sweeping Monaco 3-0 in their Games of the Small States of Europe volleyball clash. The hosts looked sharp from the first serve, using their superior physicality and the support of the stands to overpower a Monaco side that had travelled with hopes of causing an upset.

Match Overview

Montenegro’s game plan was simple and effective: run the offence through the middle and apply relentless pressure from the service line. Their powerful jump serves disrupted Monaco’s reception, forcing the Monegasque setters into uncomfortable positions time and again. At the net, Montenegro’s blockers formed an impenetrable wall, repeatedly shutting down Monaco’s attempts to find a way through. Despite their best efforts, Monaco could not string together enough points to threaten the favoured home team.

Key Moments

• The home side’s fast start: Montenegro opened with a 7-1 run, immediately releasing the pressure valve and settling any nerves.
• Monaco’s strongest period in the second set: they led 14-12 after a string of well-placed attacks, but Montenegro’s coach called a time-out and his team responded with an 8-1 scoring burst.
• Match point and celebration: a block on the outside sealed the 25-15, 25-19, 25-16 win, sending the home fans into raptures.

Standout Performances

Montenegro’s middle blocker was a force of nature, recording a high number of kills and blocks while imposing herself on the match from start to finish. The home captain led by example, keeping the team focused during Monaco’s mini-revival. For Monaco, the libero impressed with her defensive reads and kept many rallies alive, but her team simply could not match Montenegro’s power and depth in the rotation.

What It Means

For Montenegro, the win meant more than just three points. It was a confidence-boosting start to a tournament in which they were among the pretenders to the title, especially after winning the event on home soil in 2019. The sweeping victory gave them early momentum and a superior set ratio in the group standings. Monaco, to their credit, showed improvement as the match wore on, but they left the arena knowing that mistakes against a side of this calibre are ruthlessly punished.