In the men’s MEVZA League, Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) celebrated a hard fought 3-2 (21-25, 25-17, 25-16, 20-25, 15-10) away win over Final Four hosts Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) on Monday night. Thus, the second-placed Slovenians improved their win-loss record in the competition to 8-5 and they are just a step away from qualifying for this season’s climax scheduled for March 4 and 5 in Zwettl.
Both head coaches could not count on a full roster. “Therefore, I am pleased with the performance my team delivered today as well as with the one point we managed to secure. I hope the sick and injured players will come back soon,” WALVIERTEL head coach Zdenek Smejkal explained, after his team missed to record their sixth win in this year’s MEVZA League campaign. Gasper Ribic, coach from Calcit Volley, said: “My team did not play well in the first set, but then they just got better and better. Of course I am happy with the result and I hope that we will return to Zwettl in early March!”
The men’s competition will resume on Saturday with the top match between defending champions ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) and last season’s runners-up SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT). While the Slovenian CEV Champions League participants have already secured the top place in the main round this past Saturday, Austria’s dominant team in recent years is still battling for a Final Four spot. When both teams clashed for the first time this season back in November, AICH/DOB emerged victorious in four sets on home soil. The men’s regular season will end on February 22.
The women’s regular season, on the other hand, will already finish with three fixtures this coming Saturday. Alongside main round winners Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) and hosts GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO), Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) as well as ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH) will contest this season’s Final Four tournament in Nova Gorica on February 8 and 9.
Men’s MEVZA League
27.01.: Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) vs. Calcit Volley Kamnik (SLO) 2-3 (25-21, 17-25, 16-25, 25-20, 10-15)
01.02., 18:00: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) vs. SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT)
08.02., 18:00: HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) vs. ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO)
08.02., 19:00: Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) vs. OK Mladost Ribola KASTELA (CRO)
Final Four participants: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO), Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) hosts; two spots remaining
Women’s MEVZA League
01.02., 17:00: HOK KASTELA (CRO) vs. ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH)
01.02., 18:30: HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) vs. Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO)
01.02., 19:00: GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO) vs. UOK Banjaluka Volley BANJA LUKA (BIH)
Final Four participants: Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO), ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH), Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) and hosts GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO)
Men’s European Cups
CEV Champions League Volley 2020, Pool Play leg 4
28.01., 20:30: Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA (ITA) vs. Jihostroj CESKE BUDEJOVICE (CZE)
29.01., 19:00: Kuzbass KEMEROVO (RUS) vs. ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO)
CEV Volleyball Cup 2020, eighth-finals
28.01., 20:00: GFC AJACCIO (FRA) vs. Mladost BRCKO (BiH)
29.01., 20:00: Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) vs. Lindemans AALST (BEL)
29.01., 20:30: Leo Shoes MODENA (ITA) vs. VK OSTRAVA (CZE)
CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup 2020, eighth-finals
29.01., 15:00: Penzügyör BUDAPEST (HUN) vs. BDO Volley Haasrode LEUVEN (BEL)
29.01., 18:00: Mladost Ribola KAŠTELA (CRO) vs. Allianz Powervolley MILANO (ITA)
29.01., 18:00: KLADNO Volejbal cz (CZE) vs. SC Portugal LISBOA (POR)
29.01., 18:00: VK ?EZ KARLOVARSKO (CZE) vs. ACS Volei Municipal ZALAU (ROU)
29.01., 18:00: VKP SPU NITRA (SVK) vs. RENNES Volley 35 (FRA)
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