ACH Volley Ljubljana also against Maribor without a scratch to record 23rd consecutive win of the season

In the 12th round of the Sportklub Volleyball First League, ACH Volley Ljubljana and Merkur Maribor faced each other for the second time in the season. The Orange Dragons dominated in all three sets and celebrated their 23rd consecutive victory without any major problems in the match, which also counted for the Central European MEVZA championship.

Ljubljana - Tivoli sports hall, spectators: 100, referees: Brlas, Rajković (both Croatia).

ACH Volley Ljubljana : Merkur Maribor 3:0 (22, 14, 22)

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Pernuš, Šket 13, Rutar, Mašulović 9, Todorović 2, Peruničić, Okroglič, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 12, Pokeršnik 11, Videčnik 11, Kök.   Coach: Mladen Kašić.

Merkur Maribor: Adžović, Kovačević, Pavlovič 7, Bračko 3, Košenina (L), Donik 4, Adžović, Planinšič, Kržič 3, Ikhbayri 10, Kovačič, Gergye 7. Coach: Sebastijan Škorc.

At the very beginning of the first set, Pokeršnik and Šket gave the Ljubljana team a three-point advantage (6:3), which the Orange Dragons only increased in the next set after a successful attack by Mašulović (11:7) and immediately afterwards by an extremely playful Šket (12:7). The five-point lead triggered a reaction on the bench and a one-minute break at the request of coach Škorc. It did not bring any significant changes, as the Orange Dragons maintained their advantage after a marathon point, which was finished by Gjorgiev's attack. The Maribor volleyball team managed to reduce the deficit for a moment (16:14), but today the Orange Dragons, who were so lively, quickly responded and led by four (20:16) and by five (22:17) after a block by Mašulović. A second timeout at the request of Škorc followed, which put Maribor's players on edge, as the Orange Dragons came dangerously close after two Pavlovič aces (23:22). A minute break by the home coach Kašić was enough, as Videčnik cleared the doubts about the winner of the first set with a successful block (25:22).

The second set started evenly until a successful attack by Šket, which was still an unsolvable riddle for the Maribor team (8:5). The guests from štajerska answered with a block by Kržič and a block by Ikhbayri, who was not in the best mood today. In the rest of the set, however, the Hala Tivoli floor was more or less dominated by the multiple national champions, who quickly built up an unassailable lead. Šket's ace provided the first final ball, which captain Pokeršnik took advantage of (25:14).

In the third set, the home players continued to play at a high level and quickly escaped to a three-point advantage (9:6). Coach Škorc tried to stop the onslaught of the Orange Dragons with a one-minute break, but it didn't help, as Gjorgiev's successful serve only increased the home team's advantage (10:6). After a block by Videčnik for 12:7, the Maribor volleyball team woke up and managed to reduce the score to two points (15:13). Thanks to Šket and Mašulović, the Dragons managed to escape again (19:14) and maintain their advantage in the playoffs. The winner of the match was decided by a successful attack by Šket (25:22), the most efficient player of the day.

Statement of ACH Volley Ljubljana coach Mladen Kašić: "First of all, congratulations to my boys for their performance and convincing victory against the always unfavourable Maribor team. Today we proved once again that when we play with composure and tactical maturity it is very difficult to beat us in the Tivoli Hall. I expect a similar performance in a few days at the final tournament of the Slovenian Cup."