Win over Mladost Ribola KASTELA gives Calcit Volley KAMNIK big boost in race for Final Four spot

In the men’s MEVZA League, Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) is on track to qualify for the Final Four tournament scheduled for March 4 and 5 in Zwettl. On Wednesday, head coach Gasper Ribic’s squad celebrated a very important 3-0 (25-15, 25-10, 25-23) home win over Mladost Ribola KASTELA (CRO). Therefore, Calcit Volley improved their win-loss record to 7-5 and moved up to the second place in the current standing behind the confident table leaders ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO).

Milosz Hebda top scored for the hosts with 18 points, while Mladost Ribola’s Francesco De Marchi put 10 to his name. Calcit Volley is battling with their closest pursuers Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) and SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT) for the two remaining Final Four spots.

PHOTO © Calcit Volley KAMNIK

On Saturday, the defending champions from Ljubljana will be trying to secure the first place even though there are still ten matches to play. On the other hand, OK Merkur MARIBOR (SLO) are going to finalise their MEVZA League campaign at KASTELA. The regular season will come to a close on February 22.

In the women’s competition, the quest for the two remaining Final Four spots is going to resume with three fixtures this coming weekend. On Saturday, third-placed Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) will meet OK KASTELA (CRO), while second-placed ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH) will face Final Four tournament hosts GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO) and bottom of the table UOK Banjaluka Volley BANJA LUKA (BIH) will clash with the table leaders Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) on Sunday. The reigning Slovenian champions have already secured the top place two weeks ago.

Calcit Volley coach Gregor Rozman said: “The return of Eva Pogacar – she spent half a season in Italia’s Serie A at Lardini Filottrano – mean a lot to us. If you have two setters available, it makes the coach’s job easier. But with or without her, we simply have to win and pay back KASTELA for the away loss. They don’t have chances to qualify for final-four anymore, but they have their own plans. We must look at ourselves and find back to the skill level that we already had at the beginning of the season. On our last match, we have proven that we are not far from it, so we have nothing to fear.”

The final main round matches are scheduled for February 1, while the climax of the season will be held in Nova Gorica on February 8 and 9.

Men’s MEVZA League

22.01.: Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) vs. OK Mladost Ribola KASTELA (CRO) 3-0 (25-15, 25-10, 25-23)
25.01., 18:00: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) vs. OK Mladost BRCKO (BIH)
25.01., 18:00: OK Mladost Ribola KASTELA (CRO) vs. OK MARIBOR (SLO)

Final Four participants: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO), Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) hosts; two spots remaining

Women’s MEVZA League

21.01.: HOK KASTELA (CRO) vs. GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO) 3-1 (25-20, 25-13, 20-25, 25-21)
25.01., 19:00: Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) vs. HOK KASTELA (CRO)
26.01., 18:00: ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH) vs. GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO)
26.01., 19:00: UOK Banjaluka Volley BANJA LUKA (BIH) vs. Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO)

Final Four participants: Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO), GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO) hosts; two spots remaining

Women’s European Cups

CEV Champions League Volley 2020, Pool Play leg 4

21.1.: NANTES VB (FRA) vs. Vasas Obuda BUDAPEST (HUN) 3-1 (25-23, 15-25, 25-22, 25-18)
23.1.: Vakifbank ISTANBUL (TUR) vs. Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) 3-0 (25-15, 25-11, 25-10)

CEV Volleyball Cup 2020, eighth-finals

22.1.: Fatum NYIREGYHAZA (HUN) vs. Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)  3-2 (19-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-21, 15-12)
22.1.: Minchanka MINSK (BLR) vs. ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH) 3-0 (25-8, 25-20, 25-16)

CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup 2020, eighth-finals

23.1.: Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) vs. BEKESCSABAI Röplabda SE (HUN) 0-3 (14-25, 19-25, 23-25)

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