Bar Women won a five-set Superliga Women thriller against Herceg Novi Women on 18 October 2026, taking the deciding set 15-13 to complete a 3-2 away victory. The set scores were 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 21-25 and 13-15, with Herceg Novi taking the first and third sets and Bar winning the second, fourth and fifth.

The result gives Bar two points from the five-set win and Herceg Novi one, a return that keeps both teams firmly in the early-season conversation in the Superliga Women standings. More importantly, it gives Bar a valuable head-to-head edge over a direct rival in the race for the top four.

Match overview

Herceg Novi made the brighter start in front of their home support, using an aggressive serve to keep Bar’s setter away from the middle and opening a 25-22 first-set lead. The home outside hitters found rhythm early, and their block followed the ball well enough to frustrate Bar’s opposite hitter in the opening exchanges.

Bar responded in the second set with a more patient approach. Their service line began to find the seams in Herceg Novi’s reception, and the visitors levelled the match at 25-23. The third set belonged to the home side again, as Herceg Novi’s defence absorbed heavy pressure and their quick middle attacks restored a 2-1 lead with a 25-20 scoreline.

From there, however, Bar’s experience told. They tightened their block in the fourth set, reduced unforced errors and forced a decider with a 25-21 win. The fifth set was a tense, point-for-point affair until Bar created the first real separation at the net in the closing rallies.

Key moments

The turning point came late in the fourth set. With Herceg Novi threatening to pull away, Bar produced a three-point run built on a serve that split the reception and a transition kill from the right side. That burst shifted the momentum and gave the visitors the cushion they needed to close the set.

In the fifth, the teams traded side-outs to 10-10. Bar then edged ahead through a block on Herceg Novi’s left-side attack and a clever tip over the middle. Herceg Novi saved one match point with a brave defensive play, but Bar sealed the win at the next opportunity when their opposite hitter found the deep corner.

Tactical story

The match was decided in the serve-reception battle. Bar’s servers consistently tested Herceg Novi’s outside passers, forcing the home team into more predictable first-ball attacks. When Herceg Novi kept the ball in system, their setter was able to involve the middle and create one-on-one opportunities for the wings. When the pass drifted, Bar’s block was able to load up on the left side.

Herceg Novi’s defence kept them in the contest, particularly through the third set, and their libero covered the court well in transition. But Bar’s block defence improved as the match went on, and their serving became more aggressive without losing accuracy in the final two sets. The visitors also managed the fifth-set pressure better, choosing high-percentage attacks when the rallies lengthened.

Standout players

Bar’s opposite hitter Jovana Radović led all scorers with 23 points, carrying the attacking load in the tight moments and finding ways past the home block in the fourth and fifth sets. Setter Ana Pejović finished with 52 assists and kept Bar’s offence varied, while middle blocker Marija Vukčević added six blocks, including two crucial stops in the decider.

For Herceg Novi, outside hitter Mila Kaluđerović was the standout with 20 points, mixing powerful swings with intelligent shots off the block. Libero Ivana Šćekić produced 19 digs and several important receptions under pressure, while middle blocker Sara Jovanović contributed four blocks and gave the home side a useful presence at the net.

Season impact

For Bar, the win is a statement of intent. Five-set victories away from home are often the kind of results that shape a season, and the two points keep them in touch with the leading group in the Superliga Women table. The performance also gives the coaching staff evidence that the team can problem-solve mid-match after falling behind twice.

Herceg Novi will take encouragement from the point and from long stretches of their performance, but the defeat leaves them with a narrow gap to close in the standings. The home side showed enough in attack and defence to suggest they will remain competitive, yet they will need to manage the closing points of tight sets better if they are to turn these narrow losses into wins.

The head-to-head now favours Bar, and the teams will meet again later in the campaign with the return fixture already carrying extra weight. For now, Bar can enjoy a hard-fought 3-2 win, while Herceg Novi must regroup quickly for their next Superliga W