Slovenski prvaki oddali niz v Kranju

In the 3rd round of the Sportklub Premier Volleyball League, we witnessed a clash between ACH Volley Ljubljana and the home team, Hiša na Kolesih Triglav in Kranj. With the exception of the third set, where they allowed their opponents to rally, the Slovenian champions convincingly secured their second league victory.

Kranj - Planina Sports Hall, 130 spectators, referees: Milojevič, Novak.

Hiša na Kolesih Triglav: Andovski, Nanut 12, Peruničič, Tučen 9, Fajfar (L), Snedec 3, Šilanič, Mali 8, Adžović 4, Jovović 16, Zalokar (L), Jančič 1. Coach: Sašo Rop.

ACH Volley Ljubljana: Mejal, Kržič 12, Šket 5, Najdič 3, Marovt, Šen 8, Koncilja 11, Kovačič (L), Gjorgiev 22, Sešek, Pokeršnik 9. Coach: Radovan Gačič.

The start of the match was marked by missed serves on both sides. The guests from Ljubljana gained the first substantial lead after excellent serves by Kržič (7:10). This triggered a reaction from the home team, resulting in the first time-out called by Coach Rop. The situation on the court remained unchanged. The Dragons continued to play better in all aspects of the game and maintained their lead until the end of the opening set. Gjorgiev's fifth point extended the lead to 22:17, and Koncilja added a block for an unassailable lead (23:17). The set concluded with Šen's effective attack (18:25).

The second set continued to showcase the dominance of the Slovenian champions, who once again took a lead of 8:5 thanks to a solid block, particularly by Gjorgiev. The players of Hiša na Kolesih Triglav managed to catch up due to unforced errors by the guests and leveled the score at the ninth point. After a time-out called by Coach Gačič, the Orange Dragons played as they do and quickly built a five-point advantage (16:11). Koncilja excelled in blocks, tallying five by the midpoint of the second set. A new point by the determined captain extended the team's lead to 21:13. Despite the home team waking up towards the end of the set, the reigning national champions did not allow any surprises. The set ended with a mistake by Mali in the serve (20:25).

Even in the third set, the Dragons did not relent. Pokeršnik scored an ace for a 4:2 lead. Kranj's volleyball players responded and, thanks to the efficiency of Mali and Nanut, took a three-point lead (9:6). Adžovič, with a block, and Jovovič, with an attack, further increased the lead of the home team (11:6). Coach Rop found the lineup he had been searching for through substitutions in the first two sets, and the Triglav players took the lead at 19:14. ACH Volley players, with Gjorgiev's excellent serves, managed to close in on a two-point deficit (22:20), but the Kranj volleyball players responded in time, and with Mali's ace, they won the third set (25:20).

The fourth set began evenly, with both teams alternating in the lead. The home team gained the first substantial lead, partly due to questionable referee decisions (8:6), but the Dragons, thanks to Šen's serve, managed to level the score and take a two-point lead (10:8). The match continued to see a battle for every point, with neither team able to secure a substantial lead. The match entered the final set with the guests (18:20), and Gjorgiev's ace secured the first match point for ACH Volley players (19:24). The match ended in favor of the Ljubljana team with a mistake in the home team's serve (20:25).

Statement by ACH Volley Ljubljana coach, Radovan Gačič: "We played the first two sets as we wanted and convincingly won them. In the final stage of the second set, I offered a chance to practically all players, which turned out to be too many substitutions at once during that period. By the end of the second set, Triglav had found their rhythm and continued to play well in the third set. In the fourth set, we regained our rhythm, managed to regain control, and concluded the match relatively smoothly."

Statement by ACH Volley Ljubljana player, Danijel Koncilja: "The match in Kranj initially unfolded as we wanted. In the first two sets, we had control and had already built enough of an advantage for a calm finish before the sets' conclusions. In the third set, we had a lapse in concentration that should not have lasted so long. This is something we need to work on."