In the women’s MEVZA League, hosts Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) needed four sets (25-13, 26-24, 21-25, 25-17) to overcome HOK KASTELA (CRO) on Saturday evening. As a result, the second-placed Slovenians secured their spot in the Final Four of the competition. Cacit Volley’s opposite hitter Eva Zatkovic topped the charts on a total of 24 points. OK KASTELA’s opposite Nika Stanovic was the only to keep close chipping in with 22 points.
“It is very important that we have qualified for the final stage of the competition. We played well in the first set, but then I made some changes since I wanted to give some other players the chance to get into competitive rhythm. Partially we succeeded, partly not, but I am not going to make drama about that, because in the end we won. Congratulations to my players on reaching the Final Four tournament,” Calcit Volley head coach Gregor Rozman explained. Zoran Grgantov, head coach from OK KASTELA, said that it took his players a while to get used to the court. “It turned out again today that the MEVZA League teams play on a higher level on home soil. This is also true for us, as we seem to lack determination when we play away. However, I was pleased with the last three sets, where we showed a decent resistance” so Grgantov.
On Sunday, third-placed ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH) will face Final Four tournament hosts GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO) and bottom of the table UOK Banjaluka Volley BANJA LUKA (BIH) will clash with the table leaders Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO). The reigning Slovenian champions have already secured the top place two weeks ago. The climax of the women’s MEVZA League season will be held in Nova Gorica on February 8 and 9.
In the men’s competition the defending champions ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) extended their winning streak to six matches in a row, celebrating a 3-1 (25-13, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20) home win over bottom of the table Mladost BRCKO (BIH). Therefore, the Slovenians secured the top place in the main round even though there are still eight matches to play.
ACH Volley head coach Matija Plesko said: ”Today’s game had several purposes. Besides taking three points – which we managed to achieve – I wanted to use such players that just recovered from an injury. I am glad to see Matej Kök back on the court, as well as Diko Puric, who got the chance to play the whole match after suffering an ancle injury. We tried to use this game as a preparation for the CEV Champions League clash with Kuzbass KEMEROVO.”
Merkur MARIBOR (SLO) finalised their MEVZA League campaign with a 1-3 (20-25, 25-17, 15-25, 18-25) away loss at the hands of Mladost Ribola KASTELA (CRO). Thus, the Croatian team moved up to the fifth place in the current standing and they still stand a slight chance to clinch a Final Four berth.
On Monday, Final Four hosts Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) will meet second-placed Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) in Zwettl. The men’s regular season will end on February 22.
Women’s MEVZA League
25.01.: Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) vs. HOK KASTELA (CRO) 3-1 (25-13, 26-24, 21-25, 25-17)
26.01., 18:00: ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH) vs. GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO)
26.01., 19:00: UOK Banjaluka Volley BANJA LUKA (BIH) vs. Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO)
01.02., 17:00: HOK KASTELA (CRO) vs. ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH)
01.02., 18:30: HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) vs. Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO)
01.02., 19:00: GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO) vs. UOK Banjaluka Volley BANJA LUKA (BIH)
Final Four participants: Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO), Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO), GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO) hosts; one spot remaining
Men’s MEVZA League
25.01.: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) vs. OK Mladost BRCKO (BIH) 3-1 (25-13, 23-25, 25-22, 25-20)
25.01.: OK Mladost Ribola KASTELA (CRO) vs. OK MARIBOR (SLO) 3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-15, 25-18)
27.01, 19:00: Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) vs. Calcit Volley Kamnik (SLO)
01.02., 18:00: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) vs. SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT)
08.02., 18:00: HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) vs. ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO)
08.02., 19:00: Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) vs. OK Mladost Ribola KASTELA (CRO)
Final Four participants: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO), Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) hosts; two spots remaining
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