ACH Volley Ljubljana to secure victory in first quarter-final match

In Hala Tivoli we once again witnessed a solid victory of the Orange Dragons, who hosted the returnees to the first league, Krka, in the first quarter-final match of the Sportklub First Volleyball League. The Slovenian champions were convincing from the start and recorded an advantage ahead of Wednesday's return leg in Novo mesto.

Ljubljana - Tivoli sports hall, 45 spectators, referees Suljkanović, Miklošić.

ACH Volley Ljubljana : Krka 3:0 (22, 19, 15).

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Mejal 3, Šket 12 , Mašulović 7, Todorović , Bošnjak , Koncilja , Šestan 6, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 6, Videčnik 7, Kök 2, Šen 4. Coach: Radovan Gačič.

Krka: Hafner, Erpič 1, Kosmina 7, Borin, Kozar 1, Pulko 3, Lavrič 1, Hvala 3, Lindič 3, Pušnik 14, Hardt 6, Vidmar. Coach: Jernej Rojc.

After the equal opening minutes of the game, the home volleyball players took the initiative and with Videčnik on serve they led 6:3. In the following ACH Volley Ljubljana increased the led to four points, but Krka volleyball players with their fighting and sacrificial play managed to erase the deficit on the 15th point. The Orange Dragons responded with a 4:0 partial score to regain the lead and ensure a peaceful start to the first set. After a missed opportunity on the Dragons' first final ball, Krka players also made a mistake and the set ended 25:22 in favour of the home team.

In the second set, the home crowd quickly took the lead, escaping by six points (11:5). The expected reaction from the visitors' bench followed, as they called a timeout. Krka's volleyball players managed to reduce the high difference and came close to the leading home team several times (14:13 / 15:14). This was not enough to turn the tide, and the Dragons increased their lead with an efficient attack, finishing the set with a score of 25:19.

The Dragons continued their determined play in the third set, and after a few minutes of play, they were already leading by three points (6:3). From that point on, the home team's lead only increased, but Krka's defence was not strong enough to stop the onslaught of the Ljubljana team, who, after a point by Skete, escaped by as many as seven points (18:11) as the match entered its final stretch. The deficit visibly dropped, and the set ended with a ten-point advantage in favour of the Ljubljana team (25:15).

Statement by ACH Volley Ljubljana player Klemen Šen: "We are satisfied with the result of the first game of the quarter-finals, but we will have to confirm it in Novo mesto. Novo mesto volleyball players have shown that they deserve to play in the first league, but we have to take a serious approach and qualify for the semi-finals of the national championship."