Uzelac is so much about the power, i know she is just back from injury, but since 2020 and EuroVolley u19 in Bosnia she didn't improve much. I was so optimistic after that tournament about her and exicted for her future and her contribution to the senior NT. Good thing for sure is that she is still so young and have planty of time to prove me wrong.
Serbian Women's NT 2022
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Uzelac is so much about the power, i know she is just back from injury, but since 2020 and EuroVolley u19 in Bosnia she didn't improve much. I was so optimistic after that tournament about her and exicted for her future and her contribution to the senior NT. Good thing for sure is that she is still so young and have planty of time to prove me wrong.
You are wrong.
First she didn't train at all for 2 months. She is still not in her best form, this is her 3rd match, she will be ready for euro.
Second, you need to consider that this team play without opposite(as we know Zelenovic is injured, but will be ready for euro). So 60% of the balls going to 4 was opposite balls and she and Una was always in very bad spot, against 2,3 blocks.
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You are wrong.
First she didn't train at all for 2 months. She is still not in her best form, this is her 3rd match, she will be ready for euro.
Second, you need to consider that this team play without opposite(as we know Zelenovic is injured, but will be ready for euro). So 60% of the balls going to 4 was opposite balls and she and Una was always in very bad spot, against 2,3 blocks.
Either you just didn't read or get it the whole comment, impression is not based on EYOF performance in particular, that is just one in a chain. It's bigger picture and probably now i kind a have that impression because i was to much entusiastic about her in the past, but she needs more time.
Long story short, my expextations was wrong, Uzelac is just a young player with long way in front of her.
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But based on what? Did you watched last season of superleague. She had great season, she was mvp of supercup, she had amazing game against eczacibasi.
She had injury problems in last months of the season (Branko talked about that), and with Milojevic injured, this was main reason they lost against Ub.
This is pretty good staff for 17 year old girl in senior level competition.
Arina F. was way more hyped, and she disappear in every important match this season and all work was on Vargas back. All i want to say, its all normal for young players.
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First, lets hope for both of us that you are wrong.
I watched all games 2, and i only see improvements. For example today she had very good reception and she is targeted a lot, but i cannot explain what Mandovic doing with this balls in zone 3...
With one more season on senior level she will be ready for VNL.
For me Vajagic have much stronger hand, but she kinda straggling with reception, but this type of things can be improved.
Our best OH are Tica, and nobody really talk about her as prospect with is very funny. People can be really annoying with height thing but in reality Herbots is just 2cm taller. Ignored in u15 and u17 roster, but she founded her place with hard work, She is 18y and she literally cary team in senior level competitions. There is no other hitter who can attack from all 3 positions and jump serve. I really looking forward to watch her with decent setter and decent Opp.
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I'll give more of my overall impression of our performance this summer tomorrow, but for now I just want to point out something. The game against Japan was maybe the most peculiar, un-Serbian win of ours since, well at least since I've been following our NT closely (which is since 2011). Why? That match was almost completely won on the backs of the 2 MBs plus one OH (Lazovic). We played practically without an Opp. And it was a relatively easy victory. I know Japan was basically in free-fall at that point, but still, it was utterly bizarre (in a good way, of course).
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A month old, but in honour of the most prominent standout and surprise of VNL, here's a nice little interview, which I personally translated. Bolded are Sara's own words:
Sara Lozo: Being crossed off before competitions - the worst moments in career, I'm still waiting for my first medal with Serbia
Scoreboard said 8:1 for Belgium. There was nothing positive in Serbia's game. Opening of the first game of VNL, and the first one under the new coach Santarelli, was very bad. Then the Italian national turned toward bench and called in Sara Lozo.Completely unexpectedly she came onto the court, ending up the biggest contributor toward victory, earning the coach's trust for the upcoming games. And to top it all off, she did it as an OH, the weakest position in our team. "I experienced multitude of emotions after the game with Belgians. I ended that game with tears in my eyes. I was crying - but this time they were tears of happiness" said Sara Lozo in interview for Mozzart Sport. "It meant so much to me, helping the team to win after everything that happened".
Even though she was a regular in VNL, there were many who asked: Who is she?
As a rule, Sara Lozo always found a place on the wider lists for NT. She would go though the entire preparations and practices, fighting for a spot...
But she would never end up on a final list for any major international competition.
"The worst moments in my career were those crossings. It's probably the same for any athlete. There you are, giving your best in practice, and then when the moment for announcement of final list comes they tell you that you are not going. It required really a lot of patience... somehow I was always up there near the finishing line, but I still never participated in any major international competition. I didn't play in any European Championship, or in any World Championship or Olympic Games... I'm still waiting for my first medal with Serbia".
She played a prominent role in the first 2 weeks of VNL, but she won't play in the third due to Canada not recognising Russian vaccine. She is satisfied with her good play, but she is aware that they are no guarantee for future.
"When I qualify for something that isn't VNL, then and only then can I say that I made a major breakthrough. True, this year's edition of VNL boasts of a stronger line-up than was the case in previous years, but I'll wait until World Championship before celebrating. I hope that will be the moment when I'll finally be among the chosen ones".
When they look at the results so far in this year, players can be satisfied. That have the opportunity during the 3rd week to qualify for F8.
"We didn't have a lot of time for preparation. We all finished our club seasons at different times, coach coming last because his team played in the final of Champions League. We had to do everything at short notice... but it looked good, considering. It takes time to get to know the system and to find your rhythm. Players all know each other, but this particular squad never played together before. Atmosphere is pleasant, as always. I'm good with everyone, but I'm closest with my fellow Sharks. We went through so much together in Vizura, hanging out, going out, living in the same building - so it's really important to me that there are several of us now in NT".
Sara was among those with the most time on court in the first 8 game.
"To tell you the truth, I was surprised by the opportunity that was given to me. I didn't expect to be brought in so soon in the very first game. But something had to give. I had a good club season in Russia, and enough time after its end to get rest and recharge my batteries. I really came prepared and fresh into the camp. I'm really happy for this opportunity, which I hope I used up well".
This past year she spent in Russian club Proton from Saratov. The team ended up 6th in domestic league.
"I'm really grateful to coach Yuri Marichev. He used to be the coach of Russian NT and he's really good. He didn't pull me off the court all year long. I got a lot of playing time and that meant a lot for my confidence and development. It wasn't easy at all, because I was facing a tall block all the time, but it was good for me".
She managed to pull through the entire season, although there were some troubling moments.
"When the war in Ukraine began, it was difficult for me. I thought about packing my bags and leaving. However, I got into touch with the other of our athletes who were playing in Russia. Ivović, Krsmanović, some of the basketball players... I asked them what were their plans, to get a better sense of how things stood. They told me not to worry and that I was safe. And really, apart from feeling weird, there was a sense of normalcy. I think the war begun on 24th, and I was walking through the square in Moscow on the 25th and it all looked the same as before. Still, it didn't felt pleasant, knowing what was going on".
Before she decided to go to Russia, Sara spent 3 years in Kazakhstan. Her first club there was Zhetysu, and second was Altay. She left a significant mark there, earning some MVP awards. She became champion with both teams.
"Really good period in my career. It was my first time playing abroad and a hard step to make. When the offer came, I didn't thought there was any volleyball to speak of in Kazakhstan. I was being sold on the notion that it will be something similar to Azerbaijan, who used to have great teams. Then I read in the papers that Natalya Mammadova is coming, Silvija Popović and also coach Gršić. I realised then it will turn out okay. I don't have any problem with travelling far, but I remember well the first time I entered dressing room. It was the first time in my life I felt foreigner. Older players used to describe the feeling to me, but I didn't really believe them. I finished the training session, started crying and thought about leaving immediately. But afterward it was all better, its just that I had to learn Russian, because everybody was communicating in it. Once I got used to it all, I was really happy and content".
Next year she'll play in Romanian club Lugoj, trying out the new league.
"I'll be in the same club as Silvija Popović, and I'm really glad for it. It will mean a lot to me, she's a queen. There are many other Serbians in Romania... Bjelica, Milenković, Mirosavljević all arrived. It will be interesting."
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A few overall impressions:
What can one say about the girl from the post above. Even if we completely discard the first 2 weeks, the way she played against USA in quarters and Turkey in the battle for bronze was... career-making really. We are talking about a player who was so relatively little thought of that our Joana, as recently as the last autumn, didn't think she would ever amount to much, and wasn't even included in Bogdan's extensive OP of this thread, and we are talking about the 2 most knowledgeable members of this forum as far as Serbian NT goes. Even Brankica didn't have many such games in her career as that bronze match. And knowing how long and how much she longed for a breakthrough such as this and that she is already in her mid-20s... it really feels like something out of the movie.
I, like many others, have a reservations about how Santarelli didn't give practically any rest for Stevanovic-Aleksic duo, and how little playing time was given to Kocic, but boy what a duo we got! Maja started out with several monstrous blocking games (Ana Carolina-like), and even though she came down to Earth as far as block goes, she remained constant in both that and the attack (with the exception of some sets here and there, including the latter half of semis with Brazil). But Stevanovic played ever better, the more competition dragged on. She was noticeable better from week to week. and as Joana said, showed a form that she hasn't shown in NT really since 2015, her breakthrough year. Oh but for her presence last year...
As for others, generally all showed a better form than practically anyone expected (some more so, some slightly less). Drca really played rejuvenated, and it's extremely encouraging to see her connection with MBs was so good. Of course, that was dependent on a really solid reception, another aspect of the game that was much better than expected (as Madden said, the game against USA was really something to behold in that aspect; in a word, we played almost USA-like). I still remain slightly sceptical whether these aspects will hold as good when it will count even more later in the year, but here's to hoping girls will prove me wrong even more than so far.
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Our best OH are Tica, and nobody really talk about her as prospect with is very funny. People can be really annoying with height thing but in reality Herbots is just 2cm taller. Ignored in u15 and u17 roster, but she founded her place with hard work, She is 18y and she literally cary team in senior level competitions. There is no other hitter who can attack from all 3 positions and jump serve. I really looking forward to watch her with decent setter and decent Opp.
Branka Tica is by far our biggest prospect at the moment (Mihajlović is still too young to know for sure) and she absolutely must be invested in. If Santarelli doesn't call her up next year, I'm gonna riot.
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Branka Tica is by far our biggest prospect at the moment (Mihajlović is still too young to know for sure) and she absolutely must be invested in. If Santarelli doesn't call her up next year, I'm gonna riot.
I secretly hoping she will make it to the list now for wch preparations. Just to gain some experience from the girls and Santarelli.
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I secretly hoping she will make it to the list now for wch preparations. Just to gain some experience from the girls and Santarelli.
Indeed i expect to see her, before the bronze medal match in studio Jaglicic said that it will be new young faces on wide list for WCH, and IMO she should be considered as first for call in that case.
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Indeed i expect to see her, before the bronze medal match in studio Jaglicic said that it will be new young faces on wide list for WCH, and IMO she should be considered as first for call in that case.
Probably she, Gocanin and Cirovic.
We have really good hitters right now(and before vnl we tough we are in big trouble).
3 strong attackers(Mihajlovic, Lozo, Tica) and 3 good defenders(Lazovic, Milenkovic, Busa). This position will be hardest for Santarelli to make final4.
All other positions are basically already written. Maybe second libero is a question, but is not big difference.
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I can not WAIT to see Tica back with this group. It will help out the outside hitters so much
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I really liked Minja Osmajic at the U21 European Championships so maybe she will also get on the wide list
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Today players have started gathering for preparation for WCH. Santarelli will give out the wider list tomorrow, when we will finally know for certain whether Maja will play. In the meantime, here's Tijana with 2 of her BFFs:
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I really liked Minja Osmajic at the U21 European Championships so maybe she will also get on the wide list
I am pretty sure Gocanin and Osmajic will be there.
Today players have started gathering for preparation for WCH. Santarelli will give out the wider list tomorrow, when we will finally know for certain whether Maja will play. In the meantime, here's Tijana with 2 of her BFFs:
Serbian federation really roasted us today.
Everyone just wanted to see THE LIST.
Most common questions:
Will Maja be there?
What about Cirovic?
And with youngsters will join main roster.
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I cheked out several times every OSSRB page as well as every fan account and this forum.. 😂 tommorow is the day then
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Setter: Bojana Drča, Slađana Mirković
OPP: Tijana Bošković, Ana Bjelica
MB: Jovana Stevanović, Maja Aleksić, Mina Popović, Jovana Kocić, Minja Osmajić
OH: Brankica Mihajlović, Bianka Buša, Sara Lozo, Bojana Milenković, Katarina Lazović.
libero: Teodora Pušić, Bojana Gočanin, Aleksandra Jegdić
This page has such a composition.
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Hmm, I'm not 100% sure that's the official full list. That article was from yesterday, and it was explicitly said that the full list will be given today (not to mention that no article in any of our news sites other than this have given ANY list or made news of it).
