Hena Kurtagić - "Talent without hard work is just talent"
News
Hena Kurtagić, a 21-year-old middle blocker, Serbian national team member and player of Numia Vero Volley MILANO, is entering her second consecutive season in the CEV ZEREN Group Champions League Volley. The number of individual awards won by the Novi Pazar-born player is nothing short of remarkable - accolades collected in Serbia’s youth national teams as well as with Tent OBRENOVAC, Neptunes NANTES and Vero Volley.
When an athlete collects nine individual awards in just four years of representing Serbia in the Under Age categories at major international competitions, it becomes clear you are looking at an exceptional talent.
Between 2018 and 2022, Kurtagić was named Best Middle Blocker four times at the Balkan Championships (U16, U18, U19), three times at the European Championships (U18, U19), and twice at World Championships - impressively, both in 2021, in the U18 and U20 age groups.
In 2019, she was named Most Promising Young Player by the Volleyball Federation of Serbia.
Her senior club debut came with Tent OBRENOVAC in the 2021 CEV Champions League qualifiers. After being eliminated by Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI in Round 2, Tent moved to the 2021 CEV Cup and finished third, losing the semifinal to Saugella MONZA - today’s Numia Vero Volley MILANO.
Two seasons ago (2023/2024), Kurtagić signed with Monza and then spent a year on loan at Neptunes NANTES in France. In her first full international season, she reached the 2024 CEV Challenge Cup final, finishing the competition as the best blocker by statistics.
A year later she moved to Numia Vero Volley, finishing third at the 2024 FIVB Club World Championship, where she was selected to join the All-Star Team.
Last season, Kurtagić reached the 2025 CEV Champions League Final Four, but their rivals from Conegliano took the trophy.
The revenge came a month and a half ago, in October, when Milano ended Conegliano’s long reign in Italy to win the 2025 Supercoppa - the first domestic trophy to elude the Panthers since 2019 and the first in the history of Vero Volley.
“It feels like home here, just like it did with Tent OBRENOVAC. I really enjoy living and working in Italy. Everyone is kind, always ready to help. Last season we reached the final, and this year Paola Egonu, as captain, carries huge responsibility. We support her, and together we made it work. Winning the first trophy in the club’s history was special. It lifted our standards and gave us belief that we can achieve even more - and that belief is what pushes us forward.”
Numia Vero Volley MILANO opened their Pool C campaign in the 2026 CEV ZEREN Group Champions League Volley with a home victory over Olympiacos PIRAEUS. Across the net were several familiar faces: Jovana Stevanović and Milica Kubura on the court, and Branko Kovačević with Lazar Tabaković on the bench.
“It was really nice to catch up. I used to watch Jovana growing up and later trained with her in the national team - that means a lot. I also worked with coach Branko Kovačević, so I’m happy I played well, and they did too. The 3-0 win boosted our confidence, which is important for the upcoming matches. It was the perfect start to my second Champions League season, especially in front of our home fans,” Hena said.
Another standout from Serbia’s 2004 generation, just a month older than Hena - Aleksandra Uzelac - delivered an impressive debut for Turkish side ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü, playing in Conegliano against the defending European champions.
“Aleksandra is a fighter and a hard worker. She played great, just like Maja Aleksić. I didn’t get to see her in person, but I watched the match and was so happy for her - she is my best friend. I know how much she’s worth, and I hope she’ll come to Milano (laughs). I really think the 2004 generation has ‘surfaced’ the most: Vanja Ivanović, Uzelac, Stefana Pakić…” said Kurtagić, herself a member of that standout generation.
“I have incredible support from my family - my parents and my brothers. My father played basketball, so he understands the athlete’s lifestyle well, while my mother didn’t grow up in that environment. I can’t even explain how much their support means to me.”
“Talent without work is just talent — you can’t rely on it to produce real results. Awards are nice, but they wouldn’t exist without my teammates and coaches, all the people who supported me and helped us achieve good results together. Those recognitions only motivate me to work even harder and better.”
In Round 2 of Pool C, Vero Volley will play OK Železničar LAJKOVAC in Serbia - meaning Kurtagić will face Stefana Pakić, captain of the home team.
“Last year I was hoping we’d face Tent, but it didn’t happen. I’m really happy we’re coming to Serbia now - I’ll see my family, friends, and our fans. Back when I played in Obrenovac, matches against Železničar were always derbies. Milano is the favourite, of course. I saw that Železničar changed the roster significantly, but these matches will be valuable for them. They have a very young team, and this experience will help them in the league and the Serbian Cup,” said Hena.
Kurtagić made her senior national team debut in the 2023 Volleyball Nations League, won silver at the 2023 European Championship, and competed at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
“Serbia is always aiming for the podium - that’s a privilege. Being part of a team capable of winning medals means everything. With experienced players like Tijana Bošković, Slađana Mirković, and Maja Aleksić, it’s easier for us younger players. This year was our first working with coach Zoran Terzić, we built a strong foundation, and I believe we’ll only get better year by year,” Kurtagić concluded.
Numia Vero Volley MILANO continue their #CLVolleyW campaign against OK Železničar in Lajkovac on Wednesday, 3 December, at 19:00 local time.