Legendary Serbian setter Maja Ognjenović has officially returned to the Serbian national team and will play again for the "Plave" in the Volleyball Nations League 2026. This means that the Bulgarian national team will face one of the biggest stars in world volleyball in its first match of the third week of the tournament in Belgrade on July 8.
The 41-year-old Ognjenović admitted in an interview for RTS that she had reconsidered her decision to end her career after the Olympic Games in Paris. "Exactly on the day of the match against Italy – August 6 – it was my 40th birthday. It felt like this decision was made even earlier, and perhaps my farewell itself was announced in some unfair way. After some time passed and my emotions settled, I told myself that I still perhaps deserved a better and more beautiful ending. We will see if that happens this year," Maja Ognjenović stated on RTS's morning show.
The Serbian volleyball player also spoke about her motivation to continue playing at the highest level despite her age.
"I believe all this is happening solely due to the pure love for the game. Otherwise, the number of trophies, years abroad, or the material aspect of the sport are not something that can drive you forward. Love and the hunger for proving myself and longevity definitely win for me," Ognjenović added.
The return of one of the most successful setters in the history of women's volleyball will undoubtedly increase interest in the tournament in Belgrade, where Bulgaria will start its participation in the third week of the VNL precisely against the hosts from Serbia.

photo: Nikolay Varadinov