While Europe’s best men’s national teams are aiming for glory in the exciting CEV EuroVolley 2019, the participants in the upcoming MEVZA League season are continuing their preparations.
Past weekend, 2019 men’s runners-up SK Zadruga Aich/Dob and Mladost Ribola Kaštela from Croatia attended a tournament held in Kranj. Austria’s dominant squad in recent years reached the final by beating Slovenian hosts Hiša na kolesih Kranj. Kaštela, on the other hand, suffered a three-sets defeat against Volley Prata. The Italian A2 team finished in first place by celebrating a 2-0 (25-20, 32-30) victory over Aich/Dob.
Mladost Brcko from Bosnia and Herzegovina will be participating in MEVZA League for the first time. On Saturday, they continued their preparations in Kanal facing two Slovenian teams. Brcko clinched a 2-1 (25-21, 24-26, 25-15) win over Panvita Pomgrad and accepted a tight 1:2 (20-25, 26-24, 22-25) loss at the hands of hosts Salonit Anhovo.
The women’s team of Calcit Volley Kamnik took part in the “Tomi-Remont Cup” held in Olomouc, Czech Republic. The MEVZA League contestants finalised the tournament in sixth place. Hungary’s side Fatom Nyiregyháza put their hands on the trophy after winning the final against hosts and reigning MEVZA League champions VK UP Olomouc. VK Prostejov ended up in third. Eight teams from three MEVZA member federations participated in the event.
ŽOK Bimal Jedinstvo Brcko and UOK Banja Luka Volley from Bosnia and Herzegovina are going to make their debuts in the 2019-2020 MEVZA League. Both teams were in action at the “Ilidža Volleyball Cup”, alongside home side Žok Igman Ilidža, OK Slavija Isto?no Sarajevo and OK Ilijaš (all from Bosnia and Herzegovina). The preseason tournament took place on September 14 – 15 for the 8th time in a row. Brcko emerged victorious from the best “Ilidža Volleyball Cup” so far after a four-sets win over Banja Luka.
The forthcoming MEVZA League will feature eight men’s and seven women’s elite teams representing four countries. The men’s kick-off will be taking place on October 4-7 while the women’s season opener is due to follow a week later, October 11-13. The women’s and men’s sides initially compete in a double round robin format. After the main rounds, the MEVZA League reaches its climax with the Final Four tournaments in February and March (hosts will be announced in late October).
Women’s Middle European League Teams 2019-20
UOK BANJALUKA Volley (BIH)
ŽOK Bimal Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH)
HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)
OK KAŠTELA (CRO)
Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO)
GEN-I Volley (SLO)
Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO)
Men’s Middle European League Teams 2019-20
SK Posojilnica AICH/DOB (AUT)
Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT)
OK Mladost BRCKO (BIH)
HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)
OK Mladost Ribola KAŠTELA (CRO)
ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO)
Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO)
OK MARIBOR (SLO)
FOTO © CEV
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