The championship will be decided in Maribor

ACH Volley Ljubljana : OK Merkur Maribor 1:3 (-20, 16, -25, -22)

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Toman, Ropret 3, Pernuš, Toukhteh 14, Dagostino, Pavlović 2, Bošnjak, Okroglič 14, Rutar, Pokeršnik 4, Videčnik 5, Kök 14, Vučićević 10.

OK Merkur Maribor: Cafuta 1, Herman, Šket 21, Mulec, Detela, Možič 22, Ikhbayri, Donik 5, Uremovič 8, Adžović, Planinšič 2, Kisiliuk 8, Kovačič 2.

In the fourth final match Maribor defeated ACH Volley Ljubljana 3:1 (20, -16, 25, 22) in Hala Tivoli and tied the final series 2:2. The decisive fifth match will be played this Sunday at 18:15 in Tabor Hall.

The first set started with the home team leading 7:2. The advantage was maintained (12:7) by Kök´s attack, but with an ace by Šket the Maribor players got a bit closer (13:10) and Matija Pleško took his first break of the match after a half-minute break. The opening shot was scored by Možič for 14:13, and in the very next action, after Vučićević´s mistake, the teams were even (14:14). The visitors took matters into their own hands and with a point from Šket, they first led by 2 (17:19) and then by 4 (17:21). They continued to build their lead until the end of the set (20:25).

The second set started quite evenly (6:6). Jure Okroglič, who was also an important link in the block defence, started at the outside-spiker position instead of Jan Pokeršnik. The teams were finally tied at 13:13, but then the Dragons started their march to victory in the second set with an ace and a block (19:15). Maribor scored only one point before the end, and Toukhteh closed the set with an attack (25:16).

The teams were evenly matched in the opening of the third set (8:8), but then the Dragons' captain Gregor Ropret made the difference with an opening serve (12:9). The distracted Ljubljana players kept the pressure on with strong opening shots, and an ace by Toukhteh for 16:12 led to another break for Štajerska. The home team built up an even bigger margin (20:15), but after two consecutive aces by Donik, the visitors were only a point behind (20:19). Možič got the first final ball for Maribor, and in the very next action they stopped the Dragons' attack with a block and took a 2:1 lead in the set (25:27).

The visitors were the first to take the lead in the fourth set, and they did so by a big margin (1:6). The Ljubljana team came back in top style and took the lead with a 6:0 split (12:10). Maribor came back with a similar measure, taking a 14:12 lead with four consecutive points, but from that moment on the Dragons could no longer find the right answers to their opponent's play. Štajerska gradually increased their lead and with a point by Možič they got the first final ball (21:24), they took advantage of the second (22:25). The final series continues in two days in Tabor.

Alen Šket, OK Merkur Maribor: ''I'm glad I had a good performance today, but the whole team deserves credit for that. We were flying down the court in the first set, we fell down in the second, but we didn't give up, we picked our heads up and showed a fighting game again. I think we have a huge psychological advantage ahead of the fifth match, also the advantage of the home court, and if we repeat the performance we had today, I think we can deservedly look forward to the title.''

Gregor Ropret, captain of ACH Volley Ljubljana. We had a great opportunity to finish the championship on home court. We had a great desire, just like them, but you just have to show it on the court. You have to be more aggressive in attack, on the serve, you have to want to make a point, not just hope that we don't miss it. That's something Maribor does very well. They are aggressive on high balls and it often pays off. Today we had our chances, especially in the first and third set we had things under control, but then we fell into a black streak and we couldn't find a solution. I am very disappointed about today's defeat, but the new match is in two days. It's the last match of the final series, we will have to do our best and try to surprise Maribor on their home court.''