Maribor force a fourth match
OK Merkur Maribor : ACH Volley Ljubljana 3:2 (-33, 16, 22, -23, 11)
OK Merkur Maribor: Detela 2, Šket 15, Možič 26, Donik, Uremovič 10, Adžović A., Kisiliuk 20, Ikbayri, Kovačič 5, Planinšič 1, Košenina, Herman.
ACH Volley Ljubljana: Toman, Ropret 2, Pernuš, Toukhteh 16, Dagostino, Pavlović, Bošnjak, Okroglič 3, Rutar, Pokeršnik 11, Videčnik 9, Kök 16, Vučićević 18.
After two and a half hours, the third final match was won by the Maribor players, who were better after 5 sets on home soil. The fourth final match will take place on Friday at 18:30 in Hala Tivoli.
The first set was evenly matched, with neither team gaining more than a two-point advantage. The Ljubljana team took the lead with an ace by Toukhteh (12:14), but then the home team's coach Sebastijan Škorc took action with a half-minute break. Two errors by the Dragons immediately brought Maribor to level (14:14), and the finalists fought to the last point. It was played only at 33:34, when Matej Kök sent an unstoppable attack to the other side for the visiting team (33:35).
The second set was dominated by the hosts. Maribor took a 6:2 lead, but the Dragons managed to tie it up (6:6). Then came the minutes of the home volleyball players, who were already leading by 6 points (14:8) thanks to Kisiliuk's attack. The Ljubljana players could not find the right answer to Maribor game, who tied the match 1-1 in sets (25:16).
The Orange Dragons took the initiative in the third set, leading 13:10. They maintained the advantage until 13:16, when Maribor took the lead with a 6:0 partial score (19:16). This was thanks to a reliable and strong initial shot by Kisiliuk, which made the Maribor defence's job easier. The Ljubljana team woke up in the playoffs, when Vučićević's finish brought them to within a point (22:21). The turnaround was not successful in the end, as the hosts won the set with Kisiliuk's attack and took a 2:1 lead (25:22).
A thrilling fourth set did not produce a winner until the end. The Dragons built up a tangible lead midway through the set (14:18), but Maribor came back (19:19). The teams were evenly matched going into the playoffs (20:20), but then Ljubljana players made things a bit easier for themselves with 3 consecutive points in the final set (20:23). The dangerous Maribor kept the pressure on until the end, but the reigning Slovenian champions sealed the set in their favour with a block (23:25).
In the decisive fifth set, Maribor quickly took a 5:2 lead and Matija Pleško stepped in with a timeout. Merkur Maribor continued to play well and celebrated a 3:2 victory (15:11) after Bozidar Vučičević missed the opening shot.
Sebastijan Škorc, coach of Merkur Maribor: "We had nothing to lose today. We went into the game with the energy we have shown all season and we played for those who are not on the floor. The team came together, we played without Ahmed, Jan Mulc and also Mihe Cafuta, who had a stomach virus. We showed good volleyball, playing at a higher level than on Saturday. For us the win doesn't change anything, we are still in the game and a bit closer to ACH Volley Ljubljana. We have to go on the road to Ljubljana on Friday with the mind and desire to win and bring the series back to Maribor."
Matej Kök, receiver of ACH Volley Ljubljana: "We knew what kind of game we were playing for and that there would be nerves on both sides. Our game was not going well and Maribor scored in key moments to cut our advantage. We had our chances and we didn't play the way we know how. I believe that we will pick up our form in three days and play a completely different game on Friday in Ljubljana."