In the men’s MEVZA League, defending champions and competition leaders ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) left no chance to OK MARIBOR (SLO) in a national derby, celebrating an stunning 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-21) home win on Saturday night.
PHOTO © CEV
On the other hand, Last season’s runners-up SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT) had to cope with a setback, suffering a very disappointing 2-3 (25-21, 22-25 25-23, 19-25, 12-15) loss at the hands of Mladost BRCKO (BIH) on home soil, while Final Four tournament hosts Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) upset Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) in four sets (31-29, 25-21, 21-25, 25-17).
PHOTO © HAOK Mladost ZAGREB
As a result, ACH Volley are leading the standing on 24 points followed by Calcit Volley KAMNIK and AICH/DOB with 19 and 14 points, respectively. Both Mladost Ribola KASTELA (CRO) and Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) are within reach of the third-placed Austrian reigning national champions AICH/DOB on 12 points each.
On December 21, OK MARIBOR (SLO) will face second-placed Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) in the last MEVZA League match before the Christmas break.
Quotes
Matija Plesko, head coach of ACH Volley LJUBLJANA: “We showed a solid performance. Andrej Flajs got a chance instead of injured Jan Pokersnik and he took it. But I really hope ‘Poki’ will come back as soon as possible.”
Jure Okroglic, outside hitter of ACH Volley LJUBLJANA: “We played as we had agreed before the match. It was especially important to stop Rok Mozic in attack and as we managed to do so, everything went easier.”
Martin Micheu, Sports Director of SK Zadruga AICH/DOB: “A good performance is often followed by a bad one this season. We were not ready today. I do not know what is going on in the players’ minds. It is really hard to lose that way!”
Petar Visic, setter of Mladost ZAGREB: “Congratulations to our opponents. They served very well. I think, that the first set was the turning point today.”
MEVZA League Men
14.12.: HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) vs. Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) 1-3 (29-31, 21-25, 25-21, 17-25)
14.12.: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) vs. OK MARIBOR (SLO) 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-21)
14.12.: SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT) vs. OK Mladost BRCKO (BIH) 2-3 (25-21, 22-25 25-23, 19-25, 12-15)
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