Maja Aleksić withdraws from Serbia's European Championship squad

Maja Aleksic will miss the European Championship for health reasons.

Maja Aleksić will not play for Serbia at the coming European Championship. The middle blocker ended her national-team summer because of health and immunity problems. She chose rest before her next club preparation period.

Aleksić had already missed Serbia's final Volleyball Nations League tournament. Her withdrawal now removes an experienced player from Zoran Terzić's squad. The decision covers the European Championship.

The player explained the decision herself

Aleksić announced that her summer with the national team had ended. She linked the decision directly to her health and immune system. The message avoided speculation about selection or a disagreement.

She said several days of rest were necessary before club preparation. Recovery now takes priority over another international tournament. Aleksić also promised to support her teammates during the championship.

The statement describes this summer only. It does not announce retirement from Serbia. Aleksić ended her message with a reference to seeing the team again next year.

That distinction matters for an accurate headline. Serbia lose her for the European Championship. The player has not ended her complete international career.

Her absence began during the Nations League

Aleksić missed Serbia's final Nations League stop before the concluding stage. The health issue therefore appeared before the championship squad decision. Her withdrawal did not arrive without an earlier sign.

The Nations League gave younger middle blockers additional court time. They now enter championship preparation with recent international matches. That experience cannot fully replace Aleksić's established presence.

Aleksic had trained and played with Serbia before leaving the squad.

Aleksić has filled a central blocking and quick-attacking role for Serbia. Her absence changes one of the positions used in every rotation. Terzić will select the remaining middle blockers from the available squad.

Aleksić has won two world titles with Serbia and an Olympic bronze medal. She was also part of the team that won the European Championship in 2019. The current withdrawal removes that tournament experience from the squad.

Serbia lose experience in the centre

Aleksić has played many major matches for Serbia. She understands the pressure of medal rounds and short tournament recovery. That experience is difficult to reproduce during one preparation camp.

The middle-blocker role links the front-row defence with fast attacks near the setter. Aleksić has performed both duties across major international tournaments. Serbia enter the championship without that experience.

Terzić has fewer experienced choices in the middle after the withdrawal. The final squad will define how the position is shared. Aleksić will not rejoin during the tournament.

The absence does not justify invented claims about a new starting pair. Training and later selections will provide that answer. The confirmed change is simply the loss of one senior middle blocker.

Group B brings varied opponents

Serbia will play in Group B at the European Championship. The group includes the Czech Republic, Austria, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Greece. Each opponent creates different serving and blocking demands.

The tournament will be hosted across Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Turkey. Travel and recovery will therefore remain important. Serbia's exact route depends on the group schedule.

The middle blocker remains an experienced member of Serbia's programme.

The decision was made before Serbia's first European Championship match. The remaining squad will complete the preparation period without Aleksić. She will focus on recovery and her club season.

Aleksić will begin her own recovery and club preparation. Her national teammates will continue toward the championship. The two plans are separate for the remainder of the summer.

Serbia named other middle blockers in the wider preparation group before Aleksić withdrew. They will continue training with the setters and back-row defenders. The final selection will come from players who remain medically available.

Aleksić starts recovery before the club season

Elite players often move quickly between national and club seasons. That calendar reduces the time available for complete recovery. Aleksić has chosen to stop before the next demanding block.

Her public explanation gives Serbia certainty and protects the reason from rumours. The issue concerns health and immunity. No disciplinary or contractual problem was mentioned.

Serbia play Czechia, Austria, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Greece in Group B. The confirmed group provides five opening opponents. Terzić will choose his available middle blockers before those matches.

Aleksić remains an active Serbian international who will miss one summer tournament. She plans to prepare for her new club season after rest. Serbia enter the championship without one of their most experienced middle blockers.

Aleksić explained that repeated illness had limited her work during the summer. She informed the national staff before leaving the programme. Serbia can now complete the tournament roster without waiting for a late fitness test.