Orange Dragons to a convincing victory in Murska Sobota
"In the 1st round of the blue group of the Sportklub Volleyball First League, Panvita Pomgrad and ACH Volley Ljubljana faced off in the elementary school gymnasium in Murska Sobota. Despite the home team's dedicated play, the Slovenian champions celebrated another championship victory after four sets.
OŠ 1, spectators 200, referees: Smiljan Goznik, Amir Suljkanović
Panvita Pomgrad: Rajnar, Doda 10, Šormaz 14, Drvarič 3, Vrabl, Suhadolnik 4, Horvat, Legen 1, Bedrač 5, Novak, Mirković 9. Coach: Dejan Fujs
ACH Volley Ljubljana: Marković, Kržič 5, Satler, Šket 13, Najdič 2, Marovt 5, Šen 5, Koncilja 12, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 13, Sešek, Pokeršnik 15, Videčnik 9. Coach: Radovan Gačič
The Slovenian champions opened the game excellently, taking a three-point lead with a partial score of 4:0 (1:4). All players of the Ljubljana team were in good form, and the home team couldn't stop their powerful surge. In the opening set, the Murska Sobota volleyball players didn't offer the audience much chance for good cheering and hopes for a more favorable outcome. The set was concluded with an ace by Videčnik at the 14th point.
The second set brought a better performance by the home team and an equalizer. Although the guests opened the set similarly to the first and took a four-point lead (6:10), soon after, the Panvita players woke up and began steadily melting the lead of the Ljubljana players. Panvita Pomgrad capitalized on their moments and the lapse in concentration in the guests' game. They took the lead by two points for the first time at 18:16 when coach Gačič called a timeout. The Murska Sobota team then led by two points several times, even with Šormaz's successful attack for 21:19. In the end, the home volleyball players maintained the lead and equalized the score with an effective attack by Mirković (25:22).
In the third set, the Murska Sobota players kept pace with the guests only at the beginning (3:3), after which ACH Volley, with two attacks from Captain Gjorgiev and a block by Kržič, took the lead 6:3. This triggered a reaction on the bench of the home volleyball players and a timeout requested by coach Fujs. The guests were a step ahead of the opponents also in the second half of the set and won it 25:18.
After an exciting start to the fourth set, the Panvita players took the lead with 8:5. In the continuation, the guests showed their quality, and with Pokeršnik's attacking point, they equalized at 10:10. The home volleyball players did not give up, and after four consecutive points with Doda serving, they again took the lead at 14:11. A guest turnaround followed, and the score was level at 16 points. Before entering the final stage of the set, there was one last tie in Murska Sobota at 20:20, but the guests capitalized on their experience and quality, ultimately winning the game 22:25.
Statement by ACH Volley Ljubljana coach Radovan Gačič: "After an excellent opening set in which we started excellently and intensified the rhythm throughout the set, in the second set, after an equally good start and a lead of 8:4, there was a drop in concentration in the game. Panvita sensed the opportunity, and they took advantage of it in the second set to equalize. In the third set, we were again more confident and had things under control. After the first half of the fourth set didn't look good for us, but we rallied and deservedly celebrated another championship victory, which is an excellent prelude for the rest of the season."
Statement by Panvita Pomgrad coach Dejan Fujs: "We played a nice game; it's a shame we started the first set with so much respect. In the continuation, we showed that we can play with them. We still need to work on consistency since there was too much fluctuation in the game. It's a pity we didn't capitalize on our chances, especially in the fourth set, where we had some balls that could have been played differently, better. ACH doesn't offer many opportunities, and if you don't take advantage of it, it ends as it did. ACH took all three points."