Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR emerged victorious from their fifth match in this women’s MEVZA League season. Slovenia’s national champions celebrated a hard-fought 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 22-25, 25-9, 15-10) away win at competition rookies ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO on Friday night. Nova KBM Branik’s Anita Sobocan topped the match scorers on a total of 24 points, while Andjelka Radiskovic of the host team managed to put 17 points to her name.
As result, Nova KBM Branik (4-1 win-loss record) secured the second spot in the current standing, one point behind competition leaders and national rivals Calcit Volley KAMNIK (4-0), as ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo (2-2), the dominant team from Bosnia and Herzegovina in recent years, follow in third place.
“The hosts stood their chance to win this game but they suddenly lost focus and were not able to get back on track”, Nova KBM Branik head coach Radovan Gacic explained. Smail Pezerovic, head coach of ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo, was understandably disappointed after the second loss in this competition: “I think our opponents showed bigger ambitions in the decisive moments to win this game than my team did. I am sorry for the fans. Unfortunately we could not repeat our performance we had delivered in Zagreb past weekend. I will have to do my best in the coming days to give some self-confidence back to my players!”
This Saturday evening, GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO) and their neighbours in the women’s MEVZA League table OK KASTELA (CRO) face each other, while UOK Banjaluka Volley BANJA LUKA (BIH) and Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) are gearing up for the closing match of the fifth round on Sunday. The hosts are still waiting for their maiden point for the standing after three matches they have contested in their first MEVZA League campaign so far. On the other hand, Croatia’s national champions suffered three defeats in a row after winning their opening match against KASTELA almost one month ago.
Men’s MEVZA League: last season’s finalists clash in Bleiburg
Three matches of the men’s MEVZA League are due to take place on Saturday evening. Competition leaders and titleholders ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) lock horns with last season’s silver medallists SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT) at the JUFA Arena in Bleiburg. Third-ranked Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO) hope to get back on track at Mladost BRCKO (BIH). The Slovenian side had to cope with a disappointing setback, as their winning streak ended at the hands of underdogs Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) this past weekend. Austria’s national league runners-up aim their second MEVZA League win this season against bottom of the table OK MARIBOR (SLO).
Women’s MEVZA League
08.11.: ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH) vs. Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) 2-3 (23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 9-25, 10-15)
09.11., 19:00: GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA (SLO) vs. HOK KASTELA (CRO)
10.11., 19:00: UOK Banjaluka Volley BANJA LUKA (BIH) vs. HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)
Men’s MEVZA League
09.11., 19:00: Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) vs. OK MARIBOR (SLO)
09.11., 19:00: OK Mladost BRCKO (BIH) vs. Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO)
09.11., 19:00: SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT) vs. ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO)
PHOTOS © ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO
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