Defending champions successfully open the new season in the Central European League

ACH Volley Ljubljana

In the opening match of the first Central European League tournament, hosted by Zvettel from 1st to 3rd November, we watched a showdown between the home team Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel and the defending champions, ACH Volley Ljubljana. The Slovenian champions were the convincing winners with a score of 3:0.

Zwettl - Zwettl Sports Hall, 150 spectators, referees Buchar, Hladišova (both Czech Republic).

Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel : ACH Volley Ljubljana 0 : 3 (-21, -16, -18).

Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel: Kraber, Muller, Wessely, Marszalek 3, Mečiar 7, Bartos, Viens 4, Scheikl (L), Reiter (L), Stooß 2, Streutker 12, Klochko 4, Schnabel 3, Drager.   Coach: Zdenek Šmejkal.

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Mejal, Šket 10, Mašulović 6, Todorović, Bošnjak, Koncilja 11, Šestan 11, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 16, Videčnik, Kök, Šen.  Coach: Radovan Gacic.

At the beginning of the match, neither team managed to gain a significant advantage (9:9). After successful attacks by the experienced Gjorgiev and Šket, the Dragons managed to pull away later in the set. With the score 15:11 in favour of the guests, strategist Šmejkal intervened after the first timeout. After another block by Mašulović, who was returning to the court after back problems, the Ljubljana team maintained their lead (13:17). The visitors managed to stay in front despite a large number of missed opening shots. Gjorgiev's efficient offensive attack brought the Dragons to within five points (17:22), and a calm ending to the set followed, with Šket finishing the set for the Ljubljana players (21:25).

Right at the start of the second set, Šestan scored an ace to take a two-point lead (0:2). ACH Volley volleyball players increased their lead after another ace, this time by Koncilja, and then a successful attack by Gjorgiev (8:12). A half-minute break followed at the request of the visiting team, but it did not help. The guests from Ljubljana only increased the rhythm of the game and led by seven (11:18). The home volleyball players were no match for the strong opening shots of the guests, who also won the second set confidently (16:25) after a new point by captain Gjorgiev (10 points by that time).

The dominance of the reigning Central European champions continued in the third set. Šestan made it a three-point lead (1:4) right from the start with two aces, while Gjorgiev and Konclija's strong attacks only increased the advantage to 8:2. Waldviertel's volleyball players woke up after a few changes of coach Šmejkal and halved the deficit (8:11), but they could not manage to do more than that. After a strong attack by Šket, followed by a block by Mašulović, it was more or less clear at 13:18 who would be happy with the victory in the opening match of the tournament in Zwettl. Koncilja decided the match with another ace for the Ljubljana team (18:25).

Statement of ACH Volley Ljubljana coach Radovan Gačič: "Congratulations to the boys for another victory. We controlled all three sets, but above all, we prevented the opponent from playing with strong initial shots. In a very tough rhythm of back-to-back matches, a 3-0 win is welcome."