ACH Volley Ljubljana express over Krka

In the 14th round of the Sportklub First Volleyball League we watched the match between ACH Volley Ljubljana and Krka in Novo mesto. The Orange Dragons dominated the whole meeting and enjoyed a convincing 31st consecutive victory. They won 3:0 in the Marof Hall after only one hour of play.
Novo mesto - Marof Sports Hall, 50 spectators, referees Mohorčič, Novak (both Slovenia).
Krka : ACH Volley Ljubljana 0:3 (-17, -14, -11).
ACH Volley Ljubljana: Šket, Rutar 6, Mašulović 15, Todorović 2, Peruničić 3, Okroglič 5, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 12, Pokeršnik 10, Kök 4. Coach: Mladen Kašić.
Krka: Erpič, Čopi 4, Borin (L), Travnik 4, Kozar 1, Pulko 5, Lavrič 2, Peterlin 2, Hvala, Jaklič (L), Renko, Koncilja.   Coach: Tomislav Mišin.
The Ljubljana volleyball team dominated the court of the Marof hall at the very beginning of the first set and on the wings of the efficient receiver pair Okroglič - Pokeršnik led 8:3. After a block by Todorović, the Orange Dragons increased their lead to seven points, which was followed by a half-minute break at the request of coach Mišin. The rest of the set was also dominated by the undefeated ACH Volley Ljubljana players, who continued to be efficient in their offensive actions (8:15), but Krka team could not keep up with them. Todorović was excellent in playing his teammates, who were going point for point. After a successful block by Mašulović for an 18:10 lead, it was more or less clear who would win the first set. Captain Pokeršnik finished the set with a successful attack (17:25).

The start of the second set was also dominated by the guests from Ljubljana, who continued to dominate the court. Three consecutive attacks by the unstoppable Mašulović over the first tempo brought the Dragons within four points (1:5). This was followed by two more successful attacks from Gjorgiev, the Macedonian opposite in the ACH Volley ranks, to increase the advantage to five points (5:10). Coach Kašić sent Kök, who is returning from a virus infection, into the game instead of Okroglic. The first name of the game, Serbian blocker Mašulović, made two successful attacks to further distance the Ljubljana team to an unassailable nine-point advantage and the set was practically decided. The home team's strategist Mišin tried to stop the visitors' onslaught with a timeout, but to no avail. The set was decided by a Mašulović attack, who scored 12 points by the end of the second set.

Rutar opened the third set with a successful attack, followed immediately by two more attacks from Mašulović to give the visitors a 3:0 lead. The Orange Dragons showed that they would not let the home team breathe a sigh of relief in the next set, when they took a 7:1 lead after two attacks and an ace from Gjorgiev. The Ljubljana volleyballers dictated the rhythm of the game throughout and after successful finishes by Kök, Peruničić and Pokeršnik, the latter also scoring an ace, they led 19:7. In a calm end to the hour-long match, the ACH Volley volleyballers celebrated their 31st consecutive victory after a mistake by Lavrič on the opening shot.

The most efficient player of the match, Nemanja Mašulović, said: "We came to Novo mesto on the wings of a great victory in the CEV Challenge Cup. Despite being considered the clear favourite, we entered the match motivated and eager for another victory. We showed our true colours on the court and deservedly celebrated another victory."