Slovenian teams succeed in third round of women’s MEVZA League

Women’s MEVZA League leaders Calcit Volley KAMNIK extended their winning streak to three matches in a row on Saturday evening. The Slovenian team overpowered hosts and competition rookies ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BHI) 3-1 (23-25, 26-24, 25-17, 27-25). Two players scored more than 20 points: home star Andjelka Radiskovic managed to put 25 to her name, while Olivera Brulec Kostic from the away team was the only to keep close with 24.

“It was a tough match against very strong opponents. I think, we were a little bit more determined and focused but had also some luck in the second and fourth set. Two or three balls decided the game”, Calcit Volley head coach Gregor Rozman reported. His team has not dropped a single point in its MEVZA League campaign so far.

Smail Pezerovic, head coach of ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo, was visibly annoyed after his team was losing the fourth set and, as a result, the match. “We had a comfortable at 21-15”, Pezerovic explained. “So, we should have made at least one point but a series of errors quickly evaporated our advantage…”

PHOTO © ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO

Slovenian national champions Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR cruised to a commanding 3-0 (25-18, 25-10, 25-23) victory against MEVZA League newcomers OK KASTELA from Croatia. Anita Sobocan topped the match scorers on a total of 13 points, while Nika Stanovic recorded 10 for the away side. As a result, the hosts increased their tally to six points, which put them in second place in the table with a 2-1 win-loss record.

Another competiton rookie, GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA also from Slovenia, celebrated a four-set win (25-23, 21-25, 25-21, 25-19) against Mladost ZAGREB in the third game of leg three. The hosts had some series of great serves especially at the end of the third and fourth set, while lack of concentration and too many mistakes in reception placed the Croatians on the losing side. Therefore, GEN-I Volley drew level with Mladost ZAGREB and ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo. Anna Spanou was the player of the match after delivering an impressive performance that saw her finishing on a total of 22 points. Bozana Butigan hammered 16 for Mladost ZAGREB.

PHOTO © GEN-I Volley NOVA GOR

Gen-i Volley head coach Tilen Kozamernik: “There are still some ups and downs in our game. We felt the absense of Pia Blazic, who suffered an injury in the previous match. Thus, we are still searching for our new starting six.”

Gen-i Volley captain Mirta Velikonja Grbac: “We showed a good performance today, but there is still some room for improvement. We have to fix some minor poblems. Fortunately, we were serving strong today, that helped us to win the match.”

Mladost Zagreb head coach Sasa Ivanisevic: “We were not focused enough, especially at the end of the sets. Gen-i volley took advantage of that and deserved the win.”

Mladost Zagreb captain Iva Jurisic: “We made too many mistakes and the bad reception cost us the victory. I hope we will fight back next Saturday on home soil.”

Women’s MEVZA League, leg 3

26.10.: ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH) vs. Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) 1:3 (25:23, 24:26, 17:25, 25:27)
26.10.: Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) vs. HOK KASTELA (CRO) 3:0 (25:18, 25:10, 25:23)
26.10.: GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO) vs. HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) 3:1 (25:23, 21:25, 25:21, 25:19)

leg 4

02.11., 17:00: Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) vs. UOK Banjaluka Volley BANJA LUKA (BIH)
02.11., 18:00: Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) vs. GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO)
02.11., 18:30: HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) vs. ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH)

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