Dragons reach 13th Central European Championship title in Slovenian final

The final action of the Central European Mevza League, hosted by Kamnik, saw the Slovenian final between home team Calcit Volley and defending champions ACH Volley Ljubljana. After losing the opening set, the Slovenian champions won the next three sets and deservedly celebrated their 13th Mevza Central European League title.

Kamnik - Kamnik Sports Hall, spectators 200, referees: Mezöffy Zsolt, Kramar Šandl Tajana.

Calcit Volley : ACH Volley Ljubljana 1 : 3 (23, -18, -22, -23).

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Mejal, Šket, Mašulović 6, Todorović 5, Bošnjak, Koncilja 10, Šestan 13, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 24, Videčnik, Kök 13, Šen.   Coach: Radovan Gačič.

Calcit Volley: Planinšič 1, Mujanović 9, Vinkovič, Lazar, Košenina (L), Arsenoski, Okroglič 5, Sosa Sierra 24, Mitrašinović 3, Aponza Carabali 12, Pavlovič 7. Coach: Jurij Žavbi.

The opening of the final match belonged to the Calcit volleyball players, who led by three points (12:9) with a block, which triggered the expected reaction on the Ljubljana bench, who called a timeout. Kamnik players did not let themselves be distracted, and even after the break they had the initiative on the court (15:11). Gjorgiev, with an effective attack, managed to reduce the deficit to two points (15:13), but the home team's response was followed by a five-point advantage (19:14). In the end of the set, the Ljubljana players, with an ace by Koncilja, came to tie the game at the 22nd point, but it was not enough for a turnaround.  In a tense finish, Pavlovič got the first final ball with a block, which Mujanovič converted with a smart shot to give Kamnik a 1:0 lead in the set (25:23).

ACH Volley's volleyball players were angered by the loss of the opening set, and a determined start in the second set followed. The Slovenian champions maintained their advantage and did not let the home team get closer than three points behind. (15:12). The Orange Dragons dictated the rhythm of the game also in the second half of the set, which they won confidently on the 18th point after an error by Sosa.

In the first half of the third set we saw an even match, neither team managed to gain a significant advantage, and by the fifteenth point we had seen eleven ties. In the next period, captain Gjorgiev came to the fore and led his team to a lead that they never let slip away. The Dragons managed to escape Kamnik by three points (17:20 / 19:22) and kept the lead until the end of the set, which was finished with a strong attack by the 34-year-old Macedonian opposite (22:25).

Similarly to the third set, the game was quite even, but in the second half of the set the Ljubljana players managed to pull away from the home team (16:19). Calcit volleyball players did not give up and in the playoffs, after trailing 23:21, they tied the score. The best individual on the floor, Nikola Gjorgiev, made sure that ACH Volley Ljubljana volleyball players were happy to win their 13th Central European championship.

Statement by ACH Volley Ljubljana player Nikola Gjorgiev: "Another in a series of games with Calcit, which was exciting and in which the Kamnik players showed strong resistance. After a bad start in the opening set, we stabilised our game and made our job a lot easier with our serves. We are happy to get another victory and to win the title of Central European champions. Now we will focus on the national championship playoffs, where the goal is clear - to crown the national champions."