ACH Volley Ljubljana sovereign in Maribor

The 13th round match of the Sportklub First Volleyball League was played between ACH Volley Ljubljana and Merkur Maribor at the Tabor Sports Hall. It was the first match of the new year for both teams, and the Slovenian champions were more successful with a 3:0 score.  

Maribor - Tabor sports hall,  spectators: 150, referees: Valentan, Juraja.

OK Merkur Maribor : ACH Volley Ljubljana   0:3 (-23, -16, -19).

OK Merkur Maribor: Jevšnik (L), Vodušek, Pernuš, Adžović 8, McConnel, Bračko, Kumer (L), Kržič 4, Donik 17, Leva, Fink 6, Najdič 1, Iršič, Peruničić 7.   Coach: Sebastjan Škorc.

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Mejal, Šket, Mašulović 2, Todorović 3, Bošnjak, Koncilja 4, Šestan 9, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 13, Videčnik 6, Kök 14, Šen.   Coach: Radovan Gačič.

The visitors from Ljubljana opened the match better, taking a 6:1 lead after a strong attack from the second line by Kök. The Maribor team quickly caught the rhythm and established a balance on the floor of the Tabor hall. An ace from Adžović gave them the lead (9:8), but Todorović answered with a great series of opening shots to give the Orange Dragons the lead (12:13). The opening set continued with excellent play from the young Maribor players, with Fink's unlucky serves giving the home team a two-point lead (17:15), which they maintained until the end of the match (20:18). The Slovenian champions responded in time to tie the score at 20. In the final set, a determined Kök came to serve at 23:23 and with two aces decided the winner of the first set (23:25).

The second set was also an even start, with the Ljubljana volleyball players gaining their first significant advantage (8:10), which was followed by a timeout at the request of the home team's strategist Škorc. The Dragons kept stepping up their game and were one step ahead of their rivals. With the score 17:12 in favour of the guests, Škorc intervened after the second break. Gjorgiev's outstanding diagonal shot at 21:15 more or less decided the fate of the home players in the second set, which ACH Volley won at the 16th point.

The third set was almost identical to the second.  First, ACH Volley managed to escape by two points (9:11), followed by a timeout at the home team's request. The Ljubljana team stepped on the gas and went on to take a six-point lead (11:17) and had all the game threads in their hands until the end of the match. Šestan, returning from injury, scored a great offensive rebound for his 13th win in the championship (19:25).

Statement of ACH Volley Ljubljana coach Radovan Gačič: "After a longer break we have successfully returned to the competitive rhythm. I am especially happy that Šestan played the whole match without any problems after a long time and that the team is complete. Now it's time to turn our thoughts back to the Champions League and a very tough opponent."

ACH Volley Ljubljana player Matej Kök: "A great win against a motivated and talented Maribor team. With the exception of the first set, we were a notch better opponent throughout and deservedly celebrate the victory. Now it's time for another test in the Champions League, where we will face a stellar Perugia team."