ACH Volley express to their fifth consecutive victory

VKP Bratislava : ACH Volley Ljubljana  0 : 3 (-18, -20, -16)

VKP Bratislava (SVK): Jakubík (L), Jurík, Vančo 9, Kurej (L), Pavlicko 1, Trubač 3, Prešinský 5, Červeňák, Malina 3, Krišák, Yacoubou 11.  Coach: Matúš Kalny.

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Pernuš, Šket 17, Rutar 4, Mašulović 7, Todorović, Peruničić 1, Okroglič 4, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 17, Pokeršnik 8, Videčnik 3, Kök.  Coach: Mladen Košić..

ACH Volley Ljubljana's third away game in less than a week and a new victory in the Central European League MEVZA against Slovak team VKP Bratislava. Once again, the Ljubljana team won without losing a set, in less than an hour and a half.

The start of the match was even, with both teams making one error on the serve and successfully completing their attack over the middle. The hosts, VKP Bratislava, took the first small advantage by two points (5:3). The Orange Dragons quickly responded and tied the score (5:5). Immediately afterwards, they took a 6:8 lead on Mašulović's serve. After the fierce opening shots of Šket, who was the most efficient player of the match alongside Gjorgiev with 17 points, the Ljubljana players only increased their advantage (9:15). The playful Šket (8 points in the first set) also impressed in the offensive actions and was the driving force of the Orange Dragons with his sovereign offensive finishes throughout the set, which was won by ACH Volley Ljubljana at the 18th point after a mistake by the hosts.

ACH Volley Ljubljana volleyball players had a better start to the second set, taking a 2:0 lead on the serve of Šket. The Orange Dragons continued to put pressure on the serve, which paid off in the next set (5:9). The block, led by Mašulović, was excellent. The Ljubljana players did not let their opponent get going, and so they just kept up the rhythm, securing an unassailable seven-point lead (12:19) after two excellent serves from Rutar. In the end of the set, coach Kašić made a double substitution, replacing Gjorgiev and Todorović with Pernuš and Peruničić, who finished strong for the Dragons' 22nd point (14:22). The home team showed a bit more resistance in the playoffs and after the Orange Dragons' own mistakes reduced the deficit (19:23), which triggered a reaction on the Ljubljana bench, which broke the onslaught of the VKP Bratislava players with a one-minute break. After a successful attack by Šket, the set ended in favour of the Ljubljana team with the score 20:25.

The multiple national champions entered the third set with a minor change, with Okroglič replacing captain Pokeršnik as the receiver. On the side of the Orange Dragons, Šket and Gjorgiev were still the most offensive-minded and an unsolvable puzzle for the home team from Bratislava, who were already 6 points behind in the first half of the set (8:14). The continuation of the set was more or less a formality. ACH Volley Ljubljana won it by a big margin after a successful attack by Videčnik.

ACH Volley Ljubljana player, Alen Šket: "Another match in the set where we had things under control. We were relaxed on serve, which made it impossible for the opponent to play. Now it's important to rest up and prepare well for tomorrow's opponent and leave Slovakia with two wins in our pocket."