ACH Volley Ljubljana win second match in Slovakia

ACH Volley Ljubljana volleyball players won their second match in Slovakia in the Central European Volleyball League MEVZA and remain undefeated this season. With a score of 1:3 they eliminated TJ Spartak Myjava and thus occupy the top of the championship standings.

TJ Spartak Myjava : ACH Volley Ljubljana  1 : 3 (-19, -17, 20, -21)

TJ Spartak Myjava (SVK): Pollak 3, Watzka 12, Šima, Viskup 1, Panko, Zeman 10, Konc 13, Bartak, Ochodnicky (L), Pokopec 9, Valo, Mačuha, Rzyman 10, Zeman.  Coach: Martin Pipa.

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Pernuš, Šket 13, Rutar 8, Mašulović 9, Todorović 2, Peruničić, Okroglič, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 25, Pokeršnik 14, Videčnik 4, Kök.  Coach: Mladen Kašić.

The Orange Dragons quickly took the lead and with good block play, quickly moved to a four-point advantage (3:7). A one-minute timeout followed at the request of the home team's coach Pipa, but this did not stop the Ljubljana team's onslaught, who only increased their lead (3:10) after a successful series of initial shots by their point guard Gjorgiev. This time it was captain Pokeršnik who was the most penetrative in the offensive actions of the Ljubljana volleyball players. The guests continued to shine in the block (six in total in the first set) and were sovereign in their offensive actions. The set ended in favour of the Orange Dragons after a successful finish by Gjorgiev (19:25).

As if they needed a little more time, the volleyball players of TJ Spartak Myjava also woke up and, with better reception, found it easier to come up with elaborate finishes and took a minimal lead (7:6). This was quickly answered by the favourites of today's meeting, ACH Volley Ljubljana, who took a two-point lead (10:12). They only increased the rhythm of the game and after three consecutive aces by Šket they escaped by six points (14:20). The Orange Dragons maintained their high lead until the end of the set, and after a successful finish by Pokeršnik, they ended the set on 17 points.

The start of the third set was similar to the start of the second. Until the ninth point we watched an even match, which took a turn in the next set. The hosts, the volleyball players of TJ Spartak Myjava, started to take the initiative, with Konc playing the role of the corrector. At first they led by two points (15:13 and 17:15), and later, after an excellent block, by three points (17:20). This triggered a reaction on the Ljubljana bench, who, with a minute of timeout by coach Kašić, tried to stop the Slovak team's onslaught, but to no avail. The hosts continued to act with sovereignty and won the set with a score of 25:20.

The losing set did not dishearten the Ljubljana volleyball players, who dominated the court again in the fourth set and built up a seven-point lead (2:9) right from the start. ACH Volley Ljubljana did not let up and after a marathon point, which was finished with a successful attack by Pokeršnik, they led by seven points (7:14). Kök replaced Šket at the receiver's position. ACH Volley Ljubljana did not let their opponent play this time and kept the advantage until the end of the set, which was decided by a crafty move by Todorović.

Statement of ACH Volley Ljubljana coach Mladen Kašić: "We leave Slovakia with good impressions. Our goal of two victories has been achieved, so congratulations to all the boys. Now we have to recover well and at the same time prepare for Saturday's match with Črnuče. A team that has already proved in this year's championship that it is a quality team."