ACH Volley Ljubljana enters finals after besting Salonit

The first semi-final match of the final tournament of the Slovenian Cup was played between ACH Volley Ljubljana and Salonit Anhovo in Ljubljana's Hala Tivoli. In an interesting match, where we watched volleyball at a high level, ACH Volley Ljubljana won with a score of 3:1 and thus became the first finalists of the Slovenian Cup. In tomorrow's final, the Orange Dragons will be vying for their 13th Cup trophy.

Ljubljana - Tivoli sports hall, 50 spectators, referees Miklošič, Perčič (both Slovenia).

ACH Volley Ljubljana : Salonit Anhovo 3:1 (16, 22, -22, 20).

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Pernuš, Šket 6, Rutar, Mašulović 9, Todorović 1, Peruničić, Okroglič 4, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 14, Pokeršnik 9, Videčnik 9, Kök 10. Coach: Mladen Kašić.

Salonit Anhovo: Boharev 12, Šarić (L), Jereb, Filiputti, Karnel 2, Jeklin, Lazar 11, Kavčič, Maretič, Radosavljević 12, Okroglič (L), Kovačič, Vrtovec 14, Ristić 9. Coach: Rade Dačović.

The match started with a great game of the Orange Dragons, who led 6:0 after a series of successful initial shots by Kök. The onslaught of ACH Volley Ljubljana players was twice stopped by the visitors' coach Dačović, who managed to momentarily calm down the Salonit players. Lazar managed to reduce the advantage (9:6) with two aces, but after another ace in the first set by the extremely skilled Kök, the Orange Dragons escaped again (16:11) and kept the advantage until the end of the first set. After another block by the Ljubljana volleyball players, this time Videčnik was successful, the set ended on the 16th point (25:16).

Salonit volleyball players entered the second set much better (0:3, 1:4) and kept the pressure on the serve. The Ljubljana team's serve reception was not at the same high level as in the first set, and the Orange Dragons made too many mistakes. Thus, Salonit's players maintained their advantage in the second set. At 3:8, the home strategist Kašić had to take a minute break. This woke up the Orange Dragons, who reduced the deficit to two points (7:9), followed by a reaction on the Salonit Anhovo bench and a one-minute break at the request of Dačović. Salonit's volleyball players continued with excellent initial shots, causing the Ljubljana team a lot of problems on the reception. Playful Lazar and Vrtovec made sure that Salonit volleyball players came into the end of the set with a four-point advantage (20:24) and managed to win the set (22:25) after a successful attack by Radosavljević.

The third set started on ACH Volley Ljubljana's note, as they gained a three-point advantage (6:3). Coach Kašić sent the experienced Šket to play instead of Kök, which brought some freshness to the team. Despite the Ljubljana team's lead (14:10), the Salonit volleyball players did not give up and managed to tie the score at 15 after a successful block by Lazar. It was mainly by playing over the first tempo that the ACH Volley Ljubljana volleyball players managed to regain a four-point advantage (21:17) and maintained it until the end of the third set, which they won after an error by Boharev on the opening hit.

After an even start of the fourth set, the Ljubljana volleyball players gradually took the initiative and after a block by Videčnik and immediately afterwards by Šket, they led by four points (11:7). Two successful attacks by Gjorgiev to give ACH Volley a 17:13 lead finally broke the resistance of the tough Kanal players. Šket's successful attack decided the match in favour of ACH Volley Ljubljana (25:20).

Statement of ACH Volley Ljubljana coach Mladen Kašić: "The Salonita team showed a very good performance today, especially on the initial shots and in the attack. We knew that they know how to play at a very high level, and they did that today. We had to give our best to qualify for tomorrow's final, where I expect another tough match."