ACH Volley Ljubljana also from Kanal with full proceeds
ACH Volley Ljubljana also from Kanal with full proceeds
In the match of the 6th round of the Sportklub First Volleyball League we watched the home team Salonit Anhovega and the undefeated guests, volleyball players of ACH Volley Ljubljana. The Ljubljana team celebrated their sixth consecutive victory in the championship by defeating their rivals with a score of 1:3, and thus remain undefeated in all competitions in which they compete.
Kanal ob Soči - Kanal sports hall, 150 spectators, referees Tomec, Klinar (both Slovenia).
Salonit Anhovo : ACH Volley Ljubljana 1:3 (-15, -18, 20, -21)
Salonit Anhovo: Boharev 9, Saric (L), Jereb, Filiputti, Karnel 1, Jeklin, Lazar 3, Kavcic 2, Maretic, Radosavljevic 17, Okroglic (L), Kovacic 4, Vrtovec 5, Ristic 13. Coach: Rade Dačović.
ACH Volley Ljubljana: Pernuš, Šket 14, Rutar 6, Mašulović 10, Todorović 4, Peruničić, Okroglič 9, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 16, Pokeršnik 7, Videčnik, Kök. Coach: Mladen Kašić.
The start of the match went the way the visitors from Ljubljana wanted it, they led by three points (0:3). They successfully maintained their lead in the following period. After another mistake by the home team, the Orange Dragons were already leading by 2:7, which was countered by the hosts' coach Dačović after a one-minute break. The Ljubljana team's opposite Gjorgiev continued with excellent initial shots to put pressure on the opponent's reception (2:8). Salonit's volleyball players were unable to catch the high rhythm of the Orange Dragons, who continued with strong initial shots and a small number of their own errors. With a six-point advantage (4:10), the aforementioned coach of the home team intervened after a minute break. This did not deter the home team enough to get seriously close to their opponent from Ljubljana, who maintained a high advantage (6:12). The captain Pokeršnik's attacking spirit and the Orange Dragons' excellent block brought an unassailable eight-point advantage (12:20) and a calm end to the opening set, which was completed by a successful attack by the experienced Gjorgiev (15:25) after an excellent serve by Rutar.
Šket opened the second set with an ace, but this did not scare the Salonit volleyball players, who this time showed much better resistance in the beginning of the set (5:5 ; 7:8) than we saw in the first set. On the initial hit by Šket, the Orange Dragons managed to escape to a three-point advantage, which triggered a reaction on the home bench after a minute of break (7:10). After break did players erased the advantage and tied the score on the 10th point (10:10). The Ljubljana players quickly clipped their wings and stopped the Salonit Anhovo onslaught, and again managed to pull away from their rivals (11:15). The Orange Dragons' block continued to work like a well-oiled machine and completely stopped the home team's attacks. Kašič, the coach of the Ljubljana team, offered Okroglič, who started his volleyball career in Kanal, a chance in the next set. It was the 23-year-old Okroglič, with a successful attack and later a block, increased the advantage to eight points (15:23). The set ended on the 18th point (18:25) after a mistake on the opening hit by Salonit's players.
After an even start of the third set (5:5, 9:9), the Orange Dragons gradually took the lead and after another block, this time by Gjorgiev, they led by two points (9:11). After a series of initial shots by Rutar, the lead was already three points at 12:15 and the Orange Dragons were expected to continue the set. However, this was not the case, as the Salonit volleyball players finally woke up and showed a much better game in the continuation of the set. With two aces from Ristić, they took the lead at 18:17 and took the initiative. They entered the final set with a two-point lead (21:19), which was followed by a one-minute timeout at the request of coach Kašić. This did not change the course of the game, as the home players only increased their advantage (24:20) and the set ended in favour of the Kanals (25:20) after an attacking error by Okroglič.
Similarly to the third set, the fourth set was an evenly matched opening, where neither team was able to secure a significant advantage (3:4). The visitors from Ljubljana were the first to do so, leading by three points (4:7) and later by four (8:12). This did not scare the players of Salonit, who managed to tie the score on the 14th point with their relentless play. Then the Orange Dragons stepped on the gas again, and with a fighting game they regained a five-point advantage (15:20). The lead quickly melted away on Kavčič's serve and the tough home team came dangerously close again (18:20). After a minute break by the visiting coach Kašić (18:20), the ACH Volley Ljubljana volleyball players rallied and maintained their advantage, recording their sixth consecutive victory in the championship (21:25).
Statement of ACH Volley Ljubljana coach Mladen Kašić: "The Salonit team showed two faces today, and so did we. We played the first two sets with composure and everything went smoothly. In the third set we allowed ourselves to fall, which Salonit took advantage of and deservedly won the third set. In the fourth it was still not all as it should be, but enough for another win."
Statement of ACH Volley Ljubljana player Jure Okroglič: "We practically had everything under control in the first two sets and didn't let our opponent get into a game. We were especially great in the block. But then the opponents showed that it just wasn't going to be that easy and in the end we had to do our best to get another win."