ACH Volley Ljubljana Just One Win Away from Another National Championship Title

In the second match of the Sportklub Slovenian Volleyball League finals, we witnessed an exciting volleyball showdown in an electric atmosphere at a packed arena in Kanal, where the reigning champions claimed a hard-fought victory—especially in the second and third sets.

Kanal ob Soči – Sports Hall Kanal, Attendance: 550, Referees: Blaž Markelj, Anton Pevc.
Alpacem Kanal : ACH Volley Ljubljana 0 : 3 (18:25, 23:25, 32:34)

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Golzadeh 14, Jošt Kržič, Šket 8, Najdič 3, Esko, Marovt, Šen 8, Janž Janez Kržič 13, Kovačič (L), Štalekar 3, Pokeršnik, Videčnik 1, Kök 9, Kumer (L).   Coach: Matjaž Hafner

Alpacem Kanal: Mugerli, Ćinćur 5, Jerončič 5, Vinčić 2, Godnič, Stojanovič 10, Okroglič (L), Ristić 16, Kovačič, Maretič, Konjedic, Ranc 15.   Coach: Gregor Jerončič

The match opened in favor of the Orange Dragons, who quickly gained a 5-point lead thanks to the efforts of Šket and Kök. Despite the loud support from the home crowd, Alpacem players couldn’t keep up with the defending champions, who secured a 3-point lead before the end of the set with a Štalekar block. The set ended with a 5-0 run in favor of the Dragons, capped by a Ristić attacking error (18:25).

Alpacem came out strong in the second set, taking an early 10:5 lead. However, following a timeout and some guidance from coach Hafner, the Ljubljana team rallied to level the score at 14. What followed was a tight contest with several lead changes. The capital team entered the final phase with a slight advantage, and Golzadeh sealed the first set point with a powerful attack. Činčur's attacking error handed the set to ACH Volley (23:25).

The start of the third set signaled that the rest of the match would be closely contested, with both teams battling for every point. Neither side managed to gain a significant lead, leading to a nail-biting finish and a marathon set. Although Alpacem fought off eight match points with the help of the energized home crowd, Šen capitalized on the ninth one to seal the victory for ACH Volley (32:34).

Statement by ACH Volley Ljubljana Head Coach, Matjaž Hafner:
"We were welcomed by an amazing atmosphere in Kanal and faced a tough match against a motivated opponent. In the most crucial moments, we managed to stay composed and calmly bring the match to our side. Even though we lead the series 2:0, the job is not done yet. On Tuesday, we want to finish the championship with a win in front of our home fans and bring another national title to Ljubljana."

Statement by ACH Volley Ljubljana Player, Klemen Šen:
"Fantastic atmosphere here in Kanal and a very important win for the continuation of the final series. We knew Kanal would perform better than they did in the first match in Ljubljana, but we showed strong play once again and are heading back to Ljubljana with a crucial victory."