Amassing 85 points, she leads the tournament as both its highest scorer and most effective attacker.
At just 16, Asja has become a crucial offensive force for Croatia, demonstrating exceptional consistency at this year`s World Championship. Her performance was key in the host nation becoming one of the initial teams from Pool A to secure a spot in the Round of 16.
With four straight victories over Germany, Mexico, Canada, and Egypt, Croatia claimed the top position in their pool, accumulating 11 points and securing their early advancement to the knockout stage with two matches still to play.
Though not the tallest player, Asja compensates with formidable power and an impressive vertical leap. The 184cm opposite hitter has been dominant throughout the tournament, excelling both at the net and from the back row, consistently leading Croatia in scoring in every match.
Her scoring spree began with 22 points in a narrow 3-2 victory against Germany, followed by 24 points in the 3-1 win over Mexico. She then contributed 23 points in an exciting 3-1 match against Canada and added another 16 points in the straight-sets defeat of Egypt.
Currently, her total stands at 85 points, making her the leading scorer and the most effective attacker in the tournament to date.
Asja explained that she transitioned from being an outside hitter to an opposite hitter two years ago. Her debut in this new role for the national team was at the U17 World Championship in Peru last year, and she feels comfortable now. She recognizes that her teammates rely on her for attacking options, and she appreciates being able to consistently provide that. Asja believes she enjoys playing opposite more because the role is primarily focused on attacking the ball, unlike the numerous responsibilities of an outside hitter, which include passing.
Originally from Funtana, a coastal town in western Croatia, Asja attributes her start in volleyball to her father, Abel Zolota, a former player himself. She recounts that, in a way, his playing career concluded to allow hers to begin. “My father was an excellent player. He even played professionally in France,” Asja shared, “but after I was born, he decided to stop playing and return home to be with his family. I believe he could have accomplished much more if he had continued, but he prioritized family.” Asja is Abel`s only child.
Abel introduced Asja to the sport when she was just 5 years old at his club, OK Funtana Vrsar, where he still serves as head coach. He was her initial coach, teaching her fundamental skills essential for her development, and later leveraged his extensive volleyball connections to guide her career path. He now embodies the roles of father, mentor, and enthusiastic fan. Asja commented with a laugh, “He`s always been there for me and is my biggest supporter. He attends my matches with drums and is the loudest fan, which is incredibly motivating. In fact, he`s here right now (gesturing towards the Hotel Osijek lobby) to visit me.”
At the beginning of the 2023/2024 season, at just 14 years old, Asja transferred from OK Funtana Vrsar to the Slovenian club OK Ankaran. This move allowed her to reconnect with Coach Ivica Radočaj, with whom she had previously worked on the Croatian U17 national team. Asja reflected, “I`ve known him practically my whole life since he`s a close friend of my father. Initially, I didn`t really like him; some people even suggested my national team opportunity was due to his friendship with my father.” However, she added, “Working with him in Slovenia over the past two seasons has been fantastic. He`s truly challenged me to grow both as an individual and as an athlete. Moving to a new environment and learning independence is a valuable experience; you gain new insights every day.”
Asja`s development and increasing poise have been clear throughout this World Championship, with her strong attacking skills ensuring her a regular starting spot for Croatia. She expressed confidence that, under Coach Svetlana Ilic, Croatia can surpass their fifth-place finish from the 2023 tournament, which also took place in Osijek. “This is the same group that earned bronze at the 2023 European championship,” Asja stated, “but having a new coach changes things significantly. Coach Ilic is excellent; she`s very focused on specifics and provides extensive details about our opponents, which greatly aids our preparation.” She added, “We`ve faced some challenging matches already, and I believe these games have proven we still possess the capability! After the Canada match, it was the first time we collectively cried… it felt like we truly grasped what was required and left everything on the court!” Asja, fluent in both English and Italian, remarked.
While teams like the reigning champions USA and Pool C leaders Poland are considered top contenders for the World Championship title, Asja is hopeful that playing on home soil will help propel Croatia to at least the semi-finals. “There are numerous strong teams in the competition, including the USA, Poland, and Italy, but I have considerable optimism,” Asja stated. “Reaching the semi-finals is possible if we all believe in it and collaborate effectively as a unit. Playing at home brings a unique advantage; the crowd`s backing truly enhances our performance. I encourage the fans to continue supporting us, and we promise to give our absolute best on the court,” added Asja, who admires Brazilian standout Gabriela Guimarães. Regarding her future, Asja is eager to eventually play for the Croatian senior team but is focused on progressing steadily through the youth categories. To further her development, she is also scheduled to compete for Croatia at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship in Surabaya, Indonesia, from August 7 to 17 this year. On the club front, Asja`s ultimate ambition is to join the renowned Italian team Antonio Carraro Imoco Conegliano. Given her mother, Feni Nezirevic Zolota, is of mixed Croatian and Italian heritage, it feels almost destined that Asja`s skills will one day take her to Italy`s Serie A1 league, perhaps even fulfilling her dream of playing for Imoco.
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick