Entering the New Year with a win

UR Waldviertel : ACH Volley Ljubljana 1:3 (-19, -18, 23, -21)

UR Waldviertel: Vaiopolous 1, Blaginov 3, Vincelović, Weber, Bartos, Tille, Boff 9, Streutker 9, Heptinstall 5, Šulc 13, Borris 11.

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Toman, Ropret 1, Pernus, Toukhteh 5, Dagostino, Pavlovic 6, Bošnjak, Okroglič 8, Rutar, Pokeršnik 19, Videčnik 7, Kök, Djurić 20, Vučićević.

After exactly three weeks of competition break, ACH Volley Ljubljana volleyball players started the 2021 year in Zwettl, Austria, with Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel. The Orange Dragons were more successful with 3:1.

We watched an even start of the match, but then the Ljubljana players were able to develop their game more easily on the opening shot by Videčnik and gained a three-point advantage (17:14). The Dragons did not let up in the playoffs, Okroglič added for 21:16, and Ljubljana sealed the set at 25:19.

In the second game, the Slovenian champions came out swinging and quickly took the reins. With three consecutive points by Pokeršnik, plus two block finishes, the guests broke away to 10:6, and with Djurić's attack they were already leading 20:13 and won the second set (25:18) with a seven-point margin.

The start of the third set was marked by the home team taking a 6:3 lead, but the Dragons came close to a one-point deficit (12:11) with two consecutive Djurić's attacks, but the hosts soon found a way to go back ahead by three points (15:12). Pokeršnik tied the game at 17:17 and the teams were even until the end. The home team won the third set 25:23.

In the fourth set, after Pavlović entered the court, the Ljubljana players improved their block efficiency and deservedly led 14:9. With an ace by Šulc, the Austrians slightly extended the lead (15:13), but with Djurić on the attack, the Dragons continued their momentum. A block by Ropret gave the visitors a four-point advantage (18:14), but the Slovenian champions calmly took the match to the end and won 25:21.

Matija Pleško, coach of ACH Volley Ljubljana: ''I am satisfied with the defence and the movement without the ball. I am not satisfied with our serve. Far from it. That's why it was tense, we had 23 errors and 1 ace, and it was the same on the other side. Nevertheless, I'm happy with the result, it's always nice to start the new year with three points. But we know that we have to be at our best with this result until the end if we want to be at the top of the standings after the regular season.''