Orange Dragons take the lead on home court in the final series

In the first match of the grand final of the Sportklub First Volleyball League, we witnessed a clash between ACH Volley Ljubljana and Calcit Volley from Kamnik at the Tivoli Hall in Ljubljana. The Slovenian champions were the better team on their home court and deservedly celebrated their first victory in the final series, which continues on Sunday in Kamnik.

Ljubljana – Tivoli Sports Hall, attendees: 872, referees: Sanja Miklošič, Dejan Perčič

ACH Volley Ljubljana : Calcit Volley 3 : 1 (-22, 22, 19, 22)

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Marković, Kržič 7, Šket 24, Najdič 1, Marovt, Šen, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 15, Sešek, Pokeršnik 15, Videčnik 7, Song. Coach: Matjaž Hafner

Calcit Volley: Planinšič 1, Vinkovič, Lazar 1, Klobučar, Karadža Pevc (L), Košenina (L), Nikolić 3, Okroglič 4, Mitrašinović 14, Brunet 14, Oman, Bakonji, Dulchev 16, Pavlovič 10. Coach: Mladen Kašič

The home team ACH Volley Ljubljana took the initiative in the first game of the grand final. Captain Gjorgiev, who started the match as a receiver, attacked successfully twice for 4:2, followed by Šket and Kržič for an 8:5 lead. The Dragons maintained a two-point lead, and after an ace from Kržič, increased it to three, prompting a reaction from the guest bench and the first timeout requested by Kašič at 18:15. The break benefited the Calcit players, who, after an effective attack by Brunet, tied at the 19th point. The home coach also called a timeout, which, however, did not stop the momentum of the Kamnik volleyball players, who took a 23:20 lead. Another timeout by Hafner reinvigorated the Dragons, who closed the gap to one point (22:23). Calcit players gathered enough strength and after an excellent block won the set in their favor (22:25). The Ljubljana volleyball players started the second set even better. With excellent serving and play in block-defense, they gained a five-point lead (12:7). Throughout the set, the current national champions held the lead, although the Kamnik volleyball players dangerously closed the gap point by point (21:20). ACH Volley players tightened up and showed their true colors in the final moments, celebrating a set tie with another excellent performance by Šket today (25:22). At the start of the third set, neither team managed to gain a significant advantage, until young Kržič stepped up to the service line, whose excellent initial strike led to a 6:0 run. As it turned out, this was the key advantage that the Orange Dragons maintained until the end of the set. Videčnik with a powerful attack over the first tempo earned the first match point, which captain Gjorgiev used to win the third set (25:19). The Ljubljana team took the initiative again at the start of the fourth set, distancing themselves from the opponents with excellent blocking, leading 5:2. The Kamnik volleyball players realized they needed to give their last bit of strength, and they succeeded. At the tenth point, they tied the score, and immediately after, following a series of initial strikes by Brunet, took a two-point lead (10:12). The Dragons, fueled by excellent blocking and defensive play, caught up with their opponents at the 15th point. The young Kržič's show continued with two powerful blocks to stop Brunet and push ACH Volley into the lead (17:15). The momentum and excellent play of the Ljubljana volleyball players continued to the end of the fourth set, which Videčnik decided with a block.

Statement from ACH Volley Ljubljana coach, Matjaž Hafner: "I am very happy with the first victory, which we earned with the right energy from start to finish. It was a pity about the first set, as we were the better team until midway through, then our concentration dropped, which Kamnik capitalized on. It's important that we all believed we could succeed today and we all followed a common goal, which ultimately brought us an important victory. Now we are heading to Kamnik, where we go