MEVZA Final Four: Croatian teams have a chance at a double triumph

The MEVZA Final Four tournament kicked off in Zagreb today, delivering intense volleyball action and setting up the stage for the final battles. With both men’s and women’s teams competing fiercely, we now know which teams will fight for the prestigious title and which will battle for third place.

In the first men’s semifinal, ACH Volley Ljubljana faced OK i-vent Maribor. ACH Volley emerged victorious with a 3-0 win (25–22, 25–23, 27–25), securing their place in the final. Despite Maribor’s strong efforts and close set scores, ACH demonstrated their experience and resilience, closing out the match in straight sets.

The first women’s semifinal saw OK Calcit Kamnik take on OTP Banka Branik. Calcit proved their strength with a 3-1 victory (25–18, 27–29, 25–15, 25–22), earning a ticket to the grand final. Kamnik showed excellent teamwork and offensive power, especially in the decisive moments of the match, while Branik fought hard to extend the game but ultimately fell short.

The second men’s semifinal featured a dominant performance from HAOK Mladost Zagreb, who overpowered Zadruga Aich/Dob with a convincing 3-0 win (25–17, 25–14, 25–15). From the very beginning, Mladost controlled the match with precise serves and strong attacking plays, leaving their opponents little room to counter. With this victory, Mladost secured their place in the final against ACH Volley, setting up a highly anticipated showdown between two of the strongest teams in the competition.

“We did exactly what we needed to do. We knew we were up against an excellent team with a strong serve, but we managed to handle it with great reception throughout the match. Our side-out game was on point, we started serving well, and then our block came to life, which was fantastic. That led us to a well-deserved victory. In the final against Ljubljana, who are the absolute favorites, we can play completely relaxed, and in that mindset, it wouldn’t be impossible to get our hands on the trophy”, said the coach of Mladost, Radovan Gacic.

In the second women’s semifinal, HAOK Mladost Zagreb clashed with OK Dinamo. It was a thrilling match filled with momentum swings and incredible rallies, but Mladost came out on top with a 3-1 win (23–25, 25–21, 25–23, 26–24). Dinamo started strong by taking the first set, but Mladost quickly adapted and responded with a solid performance, ultimately winning three consecutive sets. The match showcased remarkable defensive plays and tactical precision from both teams, making it one of the most exciting duels of the day.

“After a match like this, we have to be happy that we made it to the final. We showed a lot of weaknesses, we weren’t at our best, but the hallmark of great teams—hopefully, we are one—is that they win even on their bad days. I can only congratulate my players, who pulled the match back from the brink. Once again, they showed character; we came back from the dead. Luckily, in the end, Prka?in went on a serving streak… It’s clear that we can and must play better in the final. It will be very tough—Calcit is an excellent team, and we know them well. We will prepare for them because winning this tournament in our own hall, in front of our home crowd, is a huge opportunity, and I hope we will make the most of it”, said the coach of Mladost, Darko Nojic.

All eyes on the finals

As the dust settles on the semifinals, the stage is set for tomorrow’s decisive matches. In the battle for third place, the men’s competition will see SK Zadruga Aich-Dob face OK i-vent Maribor (12.30), while in the women’s bracket, OK Dinamo will take on OK OTP Banka Branik Maribor (15.00).

The grand finals promise to be spectacular, as HAOK Mladost Zagreb goes head-to-head with ACH Volley in the men’s competition (17.30), while HAOK Mladost Zagreb will challenge OK Calcit Kamnik in the women’s category (20.00). These matchups bring together teams that have demonstrated exceptional skill and determination throughout the tournament, making for an electrifying conclusion to the MEVZA Final Four.