Dragons in the final!

ACH Volley Ljubljana : Calcit Volley 3:1 (-21, 18, 14, 23)

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Toman, Ropret 2, Pernuš, Toukhteh 8, Dagostino, Pavlović, Bošnjak, Okroglič, Rutar, Pokeršnik 11, Videčnik 9, Kök 12, Vučićević 20.

Calcit Volley: Kos 2, Hribar, Bregar 2, Purić 8, Kosmina 3, Gasparini 9, Hebda 12, Klobučar 7, Jerončič, Brulec 1, Beravs, Štalekar 5, Plot.

The decisive third semi-final match was played in Tivoli between home team ACH Volley Ljubljana and Calcit Volley. The Slovenian champions were delighted to reach the final after four sets.

The Dragons took a 5:2 lead owith an attack by Videčnik, but Kamnik found the back of the net with a point from Klobučar (8:7). The hosts regained a three-point lead (13:10) with Gasparini's error on the opening shot, but Gorenjsci, with a 6-0 run turned the situation in their favour (13:16). The visitors kept the difference and even increased it in the end with a block (18:23). A service error by the home team gave Kamnik the victory in the first set (21:25).

In the second set, the home players took the initiative, but this time they did not let their opponents take the reins. They scored the 12th point with a block (12:8), but an ace by Purić brought Kamnik closer again (12:10). They came closest after Vučićević's error on the opening shot (14:13), but the Dragons escaped again at 16:13 after two sovereign attacks by Kök. After Ropret's ace, the advantage was six points (22:16), and the second set belonged to the Ljubljana players (25:18) after Videčnik's finish.

The third set continued as ACH Volley Ljubljana wanted. Vučićević's attack gave them an 8:3 lead, and Kök made sure that the lead was as high as nine points (17:8). The Dragons controlled things on the court and easily took a 2:1 lead in sets (25:14).

The exciting fourth set started with the score tied (7:6). Both teams kept pace with each other and it was only for a moment that the Dragons took a 13:10 lead, as Kamnik won the next two points (13:12). The Ljubljana team entered the playoffs with a small two-point lead (20:18), but the visitors tied it at 23. After the half-minute break, the home team scored two consecutive points and after a winning block, they were happy to be in the final (25:23).

Sašo Štalekar, Calcit Volley's blocker: ''I have to say that this match we were focused on other things than volleyball. It was more than just volleyball. In the first set, our serve and block were working great, but then it turned around. In the fourth set we rallied, came back, had three chances to close it out in the last point, but we didn't take advantage of it and that's how ACH got a ticket to the final.''

Gregor Ropret, ACH Volley Ljubljana game organiser: ''This was the most important match of the season so far. We all knew that today was the day to decide who would go to the finals and there is simply no make-up exam. We can be friends before the game, but on the court we are all fighting for our jersey, our club. It's normal that at moments like this there is a bit more nervousness and some slightly controversial looks from one side and the other, but that's sport. Better that than, in an atmosphere that is already so deserted, with no spectators, for us to behave as if we were at a funeral. I'm glad we fought until the end, gave our best in terms of energy and made it to the final.''