ACH Volley Ljubljana secure important victory in the first match of the 1/8-finals of the Challenge Cup
The first match of the CEV Challenge Cup Eight Finals saw the home team of ACH Volley Ljubljana and C.S.A. Steaua from Bucharest. In an interesting volleyball performance in front of a crowd of 600 people, ACH Volley Ljubljana won 3:1, giving themselves a good starting point for the return match in Romania.
Ljubljana - Tivoli sports hall, 595 spectators, referees: Yener (Turkey), Zotović (Serbia).
ACH Volley Ljubljana : C.S.A. Steaua BUCURESTI 3: 1 (24, -21, 19, 12).
ACH Volley Ljubljana: Pernuš 1, Šket 10, Rutar, Mašulović 13, Todorović 1, Peruničić, Okroglič 12, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 17, Pokeršnik, Videčnik 8. Coach: Mladen Kašić.
C.S.A. Steaua BUCURESTI: Radunović 18, Lakcević, Ghionea, Peta 15, Lopar 8, Dumitru, Ocunschi, Iftime, Vologa 4, Matei 15, Miron, Bontea 1, Kostic 1. Coach: Dan Duroaia.
The start of the match belonged to the Ljubljana team, who took a three-point lead (5:2) after an attractive attack by Šket in the very beginning of the set. An outstanding solo block by Mašulović put the Ljubljana volleyball team further ahead (7:3), and Videčnik, with a successfully completed attack, ensured that the lead was maintained (11:7). The playful Šket and Gjorgiev ensured that the Orange Dragons continued to hold a four-point advantage (16:12). After another successful attack by Videčnik, visiting strategist Duroaia intervened with the first break at 17:12. The timeout clearly helped the guests from Bucharest. They managed to cut the deficit further and came within two points (19:17). This triggered a reaction on the ACH Volley bench and a half-minute break at the request of coach Kašić. After an outstanding defensive action by the Ljubljana players, we expected a calm end to the opening set at 22:19, but this was not the case. The relentless C.S.A. Steaua players managed to catch the home players at the end of the set and tied the score at 23rd point, immediately after which they got the first final ball. It was defended by Gjorgiev with a very accurate parallel shot, and the set was decided by an ace by Šket in extra time (26:24).
Just as Šket finished the first set, he continued with his outstanding serves at the start of the second and gave the Ljubljana team a 3:0 lead. The teams continued to play at an even pace until the Orange Dragons, through Gjorgiev and Mašulović, managed to escape with a three point lead (13:10). At first Steaua's volleyball players managed to catch up (13:13), but then the Dragons escaped again by four (17:13). The Romanian volleyball team made it clear that they were not going to give up and came back again to tie the score at 17. A half-minute break followed at the request of the home coach Kašić, but he did not stop the Bucharest volleyball team's onslaught. After another successful block, the visitors managed to enter the playoffs with a two-point advantage. Two more blocks by Steaua completely paralysed the home players and gave the visitors a four-point lead (20:24). The first final ball was defended by the Ljubljana team, and the next one was finished by Matei with a successful attack (21:25).
Okroglič made two successful attacks at the start of the third set to give the Dragons a 3:1 lead. The Ljubljana volleyball team established their trademark block-defence game and managed to increase their lead (5:1). A timeout followed at the request of the away team, but it did not bring the desired changes. The Orange Dragons dominated the rest of the set and, on the wings of a determined Gjorgiev, took a 16:11 lead. ACH Volley Ljubljana, undefeated this season, did not allow Steaua's players to get any closer and, on the wings of the above-mentioned Gjorgiev, increased their lead even further (23:17). Mašulović scored the first final ball with a successful attack, while Šket used a successful attack to win the second set.
The opening of the fourth set was very similar to the third set, where the home players managed to quickly gain a four-point advantage (5:1). The fighting Dragons continued to push the pace and took an 8:3 lead. Determined to win the fourth set, they caused the visitors a lot of problems with their strong serves. This was also reflected on the Tivoli Hall scoreboard (11:4). With a great defensive performance and successful counterattacks, the Orange Dragons marched towards their 28th win of the season. An ace by Šket finally dispelled any doubts about the winner. ACH Volley Ljubljana's volleyball players, on the wings of their outstanding and tireless fans, kept the advantage even in the end and won the match convincingly on the 12th point thanks to a successful attack by Mašulović.
Statement of ACH Volley Ljubljana coach Mladen Kašić: "A good and solid match, where the opponent surprised us with the quality of the block and defence. We conceded in the first and second set, but we found an effective way with a simplified game. This is the European Cup, where you know that when a team comes at us in a way that we are not used to in the Slovenian championship and MEVZI, we are not as mentally strong throughout the match. But we still managed to find a way to turn the match in our favour. We will have to prepare very well for the return match, because this is a team that plays outstanding volleyball."
ACH Volley Ljubljana player Matic Videčnik: "We had a great start to the game and showed that we have quality. The opponents suprised us with a good defensive performance, but we still managed to show who is the master on home court. We built point by point and didn't get unnecessarily nervous about things we didn't expect. In the end, we succeeded."