AICH/DOB secure impressive win over defending champions ACH Volley

Last season’s MEVZA League silver medallists SK Zadruga AICH/DOB of Austria celebrated an impressive 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 27-25, 25-22) home victory over reigning champions and current competition leaders ACH Volley LJUBLJANA on Saturday night. Max Landfahrer top-scored for the hosts with 22 points, while Bozidar Vucicevic from the Slovenian side kept very close with 21 points.

“I am very satisfied with our performance, although we dissipated a comfortable lead in the second set. Our players showed passion and determination in the crucial situations. Newly transferred Ivan Kolev is an outstanding player that helps us a lot increase our level. If our team is able to deliver such a performance in the CEV Champions League fixture with Mladost ZAGREB at Sportpark Klagenfurt on Wednesday, we stand a realistic chance to move into the third round”, AICH/DOB Sports Director Martin Micheu was really pleased for the first time this season.

PHOTO © CEV

ACH Volley still top the current table on twelve points with a 4-2 win-loss record, while third-placed Calcit Volley KAMNIK missed the chance to draw level with their national rivals due to a very disappointing five-set
(25-16, 25-11, 32-34, 22-25, 11-15) loss at the hands of hosts Mladost BRCKO. Jovan Delic managed to record 23 points for the MEVZA League newcomers from Bosnia and Herzegowina, as Milosz Hebda hammered 26 points for the Slovenian side.

The third men’s matchup on Saturday saw Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL cruising to a stunning sweep (25-18, 25-18, 25-20) over bottom of the table OK MARIBOR on home soil. Dawid Siwczyk (URW) and Rok Mozic (MARIBOR) top-scored for their teams with 19 and 15 points, respectively. “My players showed an awesome performance and our fans created a fantastic atmosphere, what made this evening truly remarkable”, URW head coach Zdenek Smejkal reported. Austria’s national league runners-up had already surprised one week ago, dispatching Calcit Volley at Kamnik in straight-sets. As a result, Union WALEDVIERTEL sit in fifth place in the standing one point behind domestic rivals AICH/DOB.

PHOTO © Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL

In the women’s MEVZA League just one encounter was scheduled on Saturday. Slovenia’s national runners-up GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA needed 74 minutes to overcome OK KASTELA from Croatia 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-21). GEN-I Volley’s Sara Kovac was the player of the match after delivering a strong performance that saw her finishing on a total of 19 points. Elena Vukic was KASTELA’s best scorer with 14 points. “We stayed focused during the whole match and secured an important win today but there is still some room for improvement – especially in defence”, Gen-i Volley head coach Tilen Kozamernik explained. Captain Mirta Velikonja Grbac added: “Our goal was a steady reception and to make as less mistakes in attack as possible. It was a tough match, but we kept our focus. I am happy whit what we achieved today!”

PHOTO © GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA

UOK Banjaluka Volley BANJA LUKA (BIH) and Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) are gearing up for the closing match of the fifth round on Sunday. The hosts are still waiting for their maiden point for the standing after three matches they have contested in their first MEVZA League campaign so far. On the other hand, Croatia’s national champions suffered three defeats in a row after winning their opening match against KASTELA almost one month ago.

Men’s MEVZA League

09.11.: Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) vs. OK MARIBOR (SLO) 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-20)
09.11.: OK Mladost BRCKO (BIH) vs. Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) 3-2 (16-25, 11-25, 34-32, 25-22, 15-11)
09.11.: SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT) vs. ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 27-25, 25-22)

16.11., 18:00: OK MARIBOR (SLO) vs. OK Mladost BRCKO (BIH)
16.11., 20:00: Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) vs. SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT)
17.11., 17:00: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) vs. HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)
17.11., 17:00: OK Mladost Ribola KASTELA (CRO) vs. Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT)

Women’s MEVZA League

08.11.: ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH) vs. Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) 2-3 (23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 9-25, 10-15)
09.11.: GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO) vs. OK KASTELA (CRO) 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-21)
10.11., 19:00: UOK Banjaluka Volley BANJA LUKA (BIH) vs. HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)

16.11., 17:00: HOK KASTELA (CRO) vs. Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO)
16.11., 18:00: Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) vs. UOK Banjaluka Volley BANJA LUKA (BIH)
16.11., 19:00: GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO) vs. ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH)

PHOTO © CEV

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