MEVZA League preview: Defending champions ACH Volley host last season’s bronze medallists Union Waldviertel

PHOTO © Franz Atteneder

The MEVZA League will continue on Wednesday evening, when defending champions and competition leaders ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) will be aiming to extend their winning streak to three matches in a row against Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) on home soil.

The “Nordmänner” had to cope with a disappointing straight-set loss they suffered at the hands of OK Merkur MARIBOR (SLO) in their season opener past Saturday, while ACH Volley started their campaign in the best possible way. The “Orange Dragons“ emerged victorious from their clash with MARIBOR and they left no chance to competition rookies UVC Holding GRAZ (AUT).

PHOTO © Franz Atteneder
PHOTO © Franz Atteneder

“We need exactly these opponents in order to improve and gain experience,” URW head coach Zdenek Smejkal explains, whose team won the bronze medal at the MEVZA League finals in March a few days before the Covid-19 lockdown.

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.

MEVZA League main round

14.10., 20:00: OK ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) vs Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT)
17.10., 19:00: SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT) vs Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT)
17.10., 20:00: UVC Holding GRAZ (AUT) vs OK Merkur MARIBOR (SLO)
17.10., 20:30: OK ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) vs OK Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO)

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