Defending champions ACH Volley LJUBLJANA claimed their second MEVZA League home victory in a row this season. On Sunday evening, they secured a straight-sets (25-14, 25-23, 27-25) win over debutants UVC Holding GRAZ. As a result, Slovenia’s dominant team for many years top the charts on the competition six points.?
After losing the first set, the underdogs from Austria were able to put up quite a fight, but they could not reward themselves for a good performance in their very first MEVZA League clash. Matej Kök and Božidar Vucicevic split the best scorer’s honours for the winning team with 14 points each, while GRAZ-wingspiker Tiago Pereira managed to put 11 to his name.
On Saturday, Calcit Volley KAMNIK started their MEVZA League campaign with a hard-fought 3-2 (25-18, 25-18, 28-30, 23-25, 15-11) away win at OK Merkur MARIBOR. The hosts have already suffered their second defeat in a row after losing the season opener against ACH Volley earlier this week. Maribor’s opposite, Ahmed Ikhbayri topped the scorers’ chart in the Slovenian derby on 26 points, including an ace and three winning blocks. Mitja Gasparini hammered 23 for the winning team.
The MEVZA League main-round is going to continue on October 10, when last season’s bronze-medallists Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) and 2020 finalists Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) will be locking horns in Zwettl.
Seven men’s elite teams representing three countries
The 2021 MEVZA League features seven men’s elite teams representing three countries. Alongside ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO), OK Merkur MARIBOR (SLO), Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) and UVC Holding GRAZ (AUT), SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT), Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) and HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) are competing in a double round robin format. After completion of the main round, the MEVZA League will be reaching its climax with the Final Four tournament scheduled for the last weekend of February.
Men’s MEVZA League, regular season
26.09.: OK Merkur MARIBOR (SLO) vs. OK Calcit KAMNIK (SLO) 2-3 (18-25, 18-25, 30-28, 25-23, 11-15)
27.09.: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) vs. UVC Holding GRAZ (AUT) 3-0 (25-14, 25-23, 27-25)
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