Maja Ognjenović

Maja Ognjenović (Serbian Cyrillic: Маја Огњеновић; born 6 August 1984) is a Serbian professional volleyball player of the Serbia women's national volleyball team. Ognjenović won gold with the national team at the 2018 World Championship, and the 2011/2019 edition of the European Championship, silver at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, and bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

Maja Ognjenović
Ognjenović in 2018
Personal information
Full nameMaja Ognjenović
NationalitySerbian
Born (1984-08-06) 6 August 1984
Zrenjanin, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
HometownZrenjanin, Serbia
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight67 kg (148 lb)
Spike300 cm (120 in)
Block293 cm (115 in)
Volleyball information
PositionSetter
Current clubItaly Savino del Bene Scandicci
Number10
Career
YearsTeams
2002–2006Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Crvena Zvezda
2006–2008Romania Metal Galati
2008–2009Italy Monte Schiavo Jesi
2009–2010Turkey Eczacıbaşı Zentiva
2010–2011Greece Olympiacos
2011–2012Italy Liu Jo Volley Modena
2012–2013Poland Impel Wrocław
2013–2015Poland Chemik Police
2015–2016Italy Nordmeccanica Piacenza
2016–2018Turkey Eczacıbaşı VitrA
2018–2019Russia WVC Dynamo Moscow
2019–2021Turkey VakıfBank S.K.
2021–2023Turkey Eczacıbaşı Dynavit
2023–Italy Savino del Bene Scandicci
National team
2005–2006 Serbia and Montenegro
2007– Serbia
Medal record
Women's volleyball
Representing  Serbia
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place2016 Rio de JaneiroTeam
Bronze medal – third place2020 TokyoTeam
World Championship
Gold medal – first place2018 JapanTeam
Bronze medal – third place2006 JapanTeam
European Championship
Gold medal – first place2011 Serbia/ItalyTeam
Gold medal – first place2019 Turkey/Poland/Hungary/SlovakiaTeam
Silver medal – second place2007 Belgium/LuxembourgTeam
Silver medal – second place2021 Serbia/Croatia/Bulgaria/RomaniaTeam
Silver medal – second place2023 Belgium/Italy/Estonia/GermanyTeam
Bronze medal – third place2015 Netherlands/BelgiumTeam
World Cup
Silver medal – second place2015 JapanTeam
FIVB World Grand Prix
Bronze medal – third place2011 MacauTeam
Bronze medal – third place2013 SapporoTeam
European League
Gold medal – first place 2009 Kayseri
Gold medal – first place 2010 Ankara
Gold medal – first place 2011 Istanbul
Bronze medal – third place2012 Karlovy Vary
Trofeo Valle d'Aosta
Bronze medal – third place2005 Courmayeur
Gloria Cup
Gold medal – first place 2019 Belek
Universiade
Silver medal – second place2009 BelgradeTeam

Ognjenović has won a total of 17 podiums from major world-level or continental-level competitions (Olympic Games, World Championship and European Championship) with the women’s national team, six gold, five silver and six bronze medals. She also has a successful club career, having played in some of the world's most competitive leagues such as Italy, Turkey, Russia, Poland and more.

In 2020, Ognjenović was included in the list of #roster100 by FIVB as one of the 100 most influential volleyball players between 2010 and 2020.

“I’m happy to have had the opportunity to play in Serbian volleyball and in world volleyball during the last decade and I hope to have the opportunity to play a little more during the new decade. Because I have plans. I feel really good on the court and I have more to give to volleyball.”[1]

On 1st September 2021, Ognjenović marked an important milestone of her career as she became the first Serbian woman to join the Serbian 300+ caps club after having played 300 matches with the national team. The Serbian setter and captain was honored by receiving a framed version of her jersey with the number 300.

“It is a big motivation for me to have played 300 matches with the national team for the past 16 or 17 years. Actually, I didn’t know that today is the day of my 300th match. It is a big privilege to be a member of the Serbian 300+ club and I think I am the first woman to have reached this mark. It was very emotional when I received the shirt with the number 300, but most of all I am happy about tonight’s victory.”[2]

National Team Career

2005: Joining the Serbian National Team

Ognjenović joined the Serbian women’s national team in 2005.

2006: Won the bronze medal at the 2006 World Championship

She started all matches of the 2006 FIVB World Championship held in Japan; the Serbian national team went on to win the bronze medal.

2007: Won the silver medal at the 2007 European Championship

In 2007, Ognjenović won the silver medal and the Best Setter award at the 2007 European Championship.

2009–2011: Three-time back-to-back European League champions

Ognjenović was part of the Serbian squad that won the gold medal during the 2009 European League. She took part in the 2009 Summer Universiade with the national team the following month and won the silver medal.

She went on to win back-to-back gold medal at the 2010 European League with the national team. She was also named the Best Setter of the tournament.

Ognjenović was named in the roster for the 2011 European League. Serbia won the gold medal for the third year in a row. She was awarded tournament’s Best Setter for the 2nd year running.[3]

2011: Won the gold medal at the 2011 European Championship

At the final match against Germany, Serbia was able to get the title of the 2011 European Championship in front of its audience, ending the match and the tournament with a 3–2 score. Ognjenović was awarded Best Setter of the tournament.

2012: Won the bronze medal at the 2012 European League

Ognjenović won the bronze medal with the Serbian squad at the 2012 European League. She was named Best Setter for the third year in a row.[4]

2015: Won the bronze medal at the 2015 European Championship

In 2015, Ognjenović won the bronze medal with the Serbian national team after defeating Turkey 3–0 in the 3rd place match of the 2015 European Championship. She was awarded tournament’s Best Setter.[5]

2016: Won the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Ognjenović was part of the 12-player Olympic roster for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. On August 20, 2016, she won a silver medal as a member of the Serbian women’s volleyball team after being defeated by China 3–1 in the final.

2018: Won the gold medal at the 2018 World Championship

Even though Ognjenović decided to take a break from the Serbian national team after the 2016 Rio Olympics, Serbia national team head coach Zoran Terzić announced her comeback by including her in Serbia’s 14-player roster for the 2018 World Championship.[6] She then proceeded to win Serbia’s first World Championship gold medal, when her team defeated Italy 3–2 in the final match.

2019: Won the gold medal at the 2019 European Championship

Ognjenović won the gold medal with her national team at the 2019 European Championship after they defeated Turkey 3–2 in the finals. She was awarded tournament’s Best Setter.

2021: Won the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and silver medal at the European Championship

Ognjenović was named to the 12-player roster for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, her fourth straight Olympic Games. After a devastating 3–0 defeat to USA during the semifinals, Serbia proceeded to defeat South Korea 3–0 in the 3rd place match for the bronze medal.

She led Serbia to victory as they defeated France 3–1 to proceed to the European Championship semifinals. She went on to win the silver medal at the 2021 European Championship after being defeated by Italy 3–1 in the final.

June 2023: First ever participation in the Volleyball Nations League

Ognjenović participated in the VNL for the 1st time in her career since the creation of the tournament. As it was widely regarded as a non-major tournament for the longest time (before the introduction of ranking points), she uses this time to recuperate after a hectic and stressful club season.

This time round, along with fellow compatriot, Tijana Bošković; both joined team Serbia in Week 3 of the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League in Suwon, South Korea at the request of Giovanni Guidetti, Serbia’s new coach. Due to a rough start during the first 2 weeks of the competition, Serbia did not qualify for the Final 8 as they only won 3 out of 4 matches in Week 3, ranking just outside of the top 8 at the end of the preliminary round.

September 2023: Won the silver medal at the 2023 European Championship

Ognjenović, despite being diagnosed with a severe stomach virus, came off the bench in the 3rd set against the Netherlands in the semi-finals after her team lost the 2nd set and was trailing by 3-points in the 3rd and led them to a decisive 3–1 victory with her experience and tenacity.[7] She went on to win the silver medal at the 2023 European Championship final after a well fought match which ended with a score of 3–2 in favor of Türkiye.[8]

Club career

2000s

Ognjenović made her professional career debut with Crvena Zvezda in 2002. She won the Serbian league championship and the Serbian cup in the same season. She stayed for the following season and went on to win the Serbian league championship yet again. During the 2004 season, she came 2nd place in both the league and cup championship. In the 2005 season, she got bronze for both championship.

Ognjenović then played for Metal Galati from 2006 to 2008, winning the Romanian league championship for both seasons.

She won the 2008–09 CEV Challenge Cup with Italian club Monte Schiavo Banca Marche Jesi, defeating the Greek club Panathinaikos Athens 3–0 in the final. She was awarded tournament’s Best Setter.[9]

In 2009, she played for Eczacıbaşı Zentiva.

2010s

In the 2010–11 season, she won the Greek Cup with Olympiacos.

In 2011, she played for Liu Jo Volley Modena.

She went on to play for Impel Wrocław in the 2012-2013 season.

In 2013–14, she won both the Polish league and Polish Cup with Chemik Police. She was also awarded Best Setter of the Polish Cup.

Ognjenović stayed in Poland with Chemik Police the following season, and went on to win the 2014–15 Polish league with them. Although the team finished 4th place, she was named Best Setter of the 2014-15 CEV Champions League.

In 2015, she played for Nordmeccanica Piacenza. She was runner up of the 2015–16 Italian Serie A1 league after being defeated by Imoco Volley Conegliano 3–0 in the decisive 4th final match of the season.

In 2016, she won the 2016 FIVB Club World Championship with Eczacıbaşı VitrA in Manila. She proceeded to win the bronze medal with the club team during the 2016-17 CEV Champions League after defeating Russian club Dinamo Moscow 3–1 in the 3rd place match.

In 2017–18, she stayed on with Turkish club Eczacıbaşı VitrA and won the 2017-18 CEV Cup. She was also named the Best Setter of the tournament. Although her team lost the Turkish Cup to Turkish rivals VakıfBank, Ognjenović was awarded Best Setter.

During the 2018–19 season, she won both the Russian Cup and Russian Super Cup with Dinamo Moscow.[10] She was named the Russian Cup’s Best Setter.

In 2019, she won the bronze medal at the 2019 FIVB Club World Championship with Turkish club VakıfBank by defeating Italian club Igor Gorgonzola Novara 3–0 in the 3rd place match. She was the runner up of the Turkish Super Cup after Turkish rivals Eczacıbaşı VitrA defeated them 3-2. She was named Best Setter of the Super Cup.

2020s

Ognjenović stayed with Turkish club VakıfBank the following season (2020-2021) and proceeded to win the 2021 Turkish Cup with them. She won the silver medal with VakıfBank after being defeated by Imoco Volley Conegliano 3–2 in the final match.

In 2021–22, Ognjenović won the 2021-22 CEV Cup with Eczacıbaşı Dynavit, defeating German club Allianz MTV Stuttgart 3–1 in both the first and second leg of the finals. She was awarded her first ever MVP. [11] She was also named Best Setter of the CEV Cup.[12]

She stayed on with Turkish club Eczacıbaşı Dynavit the following season and won the bronze medal at the 2022 FIVB Club World Championship by defeating Brazilian club Gerdau Minas 3–1 in the 3rd place match.

Currently, she plays at Savino del Bene Scandicci.[13]

Personal life

Ognjenović has been married to Serbian former competitive water polo player Danilo Ikodinović since 2016. They have been in a relationship for more than 3 years before deciding to tie the knot on the last day of 2016.[14]

Awards

Senior team

Universiade

Clubs

Individual

References
  1. "Ognjenovic; women's volleyball best playmaker - it's a privilege to play with Maja Ognjenovic"
  2. "Ognjenovic celebrates 300-cap milestone by leading Serbia to EuroVolley semis"
  3. CEV (2011-07-15). "Serbia claims third consecutive crown". Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2011-07-16.
  4. CEV (2012-07-06). "Czech ladies claim European League title". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  5. CEV (2012-07-06). "Serbia adds bronze medal to its impressive tally". Retrieved 2012-07-07.
  6. "Ognjenovic returns to NT"
  7. "Srbijo, budi ponosna!" Gvideti posle plasmana u finale: Ponavljam ono što sam rekao više puta..."
  8. "Maja Ognjenović: Nedostajalo nam je malo više energije i želje, samo mi znamo kako ovo preživimo i odbolujemo"
  9. CEV. "First European trophy ever for Italian club Vini Monteschiavo Jesi". Archived from the original on 2009-03-22. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  10. "Ognjenovic reinforces Dinamo Moscow"
  11. "Eczacibasi wins CEV Cup again after 4 years, MVP Maja Ognjenovic, Top Scorer Tijana Boskovic"
  12. "Ognjenovic awarded Best Setter"
  13. ""To je poluprokletstvo" Maja Ognjenović za Sportal o svojoj dominaciji i odbojkaškim snovima u 39. godini: Kad to doživiš, ne prestaje ti se!"
  14. "Ognjenovic gets married to former water polo player Danilo Ikodinovic"
  15. Ολυμπιακός-ΑΕΚ 3-2: Το πρώτο Κύπελλο της ιστορίας της κατέκτησε η γυναικεία ομάδα βόλεϊ του Ολυμπιακού, που σε έναν συναρπαστικό τελικό στη Σάμο νίκησε με 3-2 την ΑΕΚ. sport24.gr, 16/04/2011 (in Greek)
  16. "VakifBank Continues to Reign Supreme in the CEV Champions League Volley | ChampionsLeague".
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