Slovenian champions without a chance in Poland

On the fourth match of the season in the elite Champions League, we witnessed a clash between the home team, Asseco Resovia, and the visitors, ACH Volley Ljubljana, in Poland. The Polish volleyball players made their job easier with powerful serves, dominating in all aspects of the game, and emerged victorious with a score of 3:0.

Rzeszow – Podpromie Hall, spectators: 1500, referees: Dobrev (BUL), Kovalchuk (UKR)

Asseco Resovia: Rejno, Bucki 1, Klos 7, Kochanowski 8, Staszewski, Boyer 10, Drzyga 2, Potera, Louati 13, Zatorski, Mordyl, Čebulj 13, Defalco. Coach: Giampaolo Medei

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Kržič, Satler, Šket 1, Najdič 2, Marovt 3, Šen 10, Koncilja 1, Tomazin, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 4, Sešek 11, Pokeršnik 6. Coach: Radovan Gačič

The Poles took a decisive lead at the start, escaping to a three-point advantage (4:1), prompting a reaction from Ljubljana's coach Gačič, who called for a timeout. The home team continued to exert pressure with powerful serves, making it difficult for the dragons to organize their attacks (9:3). At the halfway point of the set, Resovia's volleyball players already had an eight-point lead (13:5). The dragons reduced this deficit to five points with a successful attack by Marovt (14:9), but the gap was still too significant for a possible comeback. Asseco Resovia's players continued with a strong attack, and at the beginning of the set's conclusion, they increased their lead to seven points (20:13). Louati sealed the first set with an excellent serve, ending it at the 16th point.

The second set also started with a successful beginning for the Polish team, leading 5:1. The dragons tried to catch the rhythm of the game and, at the score of 8:5, approached their opponents, who still did not relent. The dragons faltered again, with a six-point difference prompting Coach Gačič to send his players to a timeout (12:6). After the break, the situation on the court did not change, and the eight-point difference proved insurmountable (18:10). Despite some spectacular moves and the dragons' fighting spirit for every point, they failed to reduce the deficit to less than six points (19:13 / 20:14). In the end, the Poles once again demonstrated their dominance, concluding the second set with a score of 25:16.

The last set began somewhat more evenly (4:4), but Resovia's volleyball players took control again, leading 4:0. The dragons tried to regain their footing, and at the score of 8:4, the coach called for a timeout. In the continuation, the home team maintained a four-point lead until the second half of the set (12:8). Then, the orange dragons somewhat awakened, and with a successful attack by Šen, they narrowed the gap to two points (11:13). With a spirited game and excellent performance by Sešek, who had already replaced captain Gjorgiev, the Ljubljana volleyball players caught up at the 16th point. A reaction from the Asseco Resovia bench followed, and they responded vigorously, taking the lead again with a score of 19:16. Until the end of the set, the Polish team executed several successful attacks. Despite the dragons' spirited play, Čebulj's ace marked the end of the match, with the opponents winning 3:0 in sets (25:19).

Statement by ACH Volley Ljubljana Coach Radovan Gačič: "Today, the opponent served excellently throughout the entire game, and except for the third set, where we started better than the other two, we were not up to the task of handling the opponent's powerful serves. Consequently, this also meant more significant difficulties in our attacking finishes. Our thoughts are already focused on the game in the domestic championship, when, in less than 48 hours, we host Calcit Volley."