17/12/2014 22:34
ACH Volley celebrate first victory, deliver strong performance at home
2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Men
Ljubljana, Slovenia, December 17, 2014. ACH Volley LJUBLJANA stopped their negative streak in Pool C of the 2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League as, after losing the opening set, Slovenia’s multiple champions completed a great comeback to edge their rivals of Budvanska Rivijera BUDVA by 3:1 (18-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-23).
The hosts of ACH Volley had entered the match with high expectations wanting to take their first points in the competition. They went up 4:2 in the first set but their opponents quickly drew level at 5 all. The score remained tight for most of the set as each team completed the side-out until BUDVA broke away for a 14:11 lead. Slovenian mentor Tomislav Smuc asked for a break but this did not prevent the guests from widening their advantage to 16:12 at the second technical time-out. Smuc tried to stop their run with another time-out at 14:19 but BUDVA held on to their lead and finished the set at 25-18.
The start of the second set was very close with ties at 3 and 5; ACH Volley called for the first technical time-out at 8:6 and continued to set the pace of the game keeping their mistakes to a minimum. The head coach of Budvanska Rivijera, Slobodan Boskan, stopped the game at 11:7 for the Slovenians but still ACH Volley kept a margin of five points at the second technical time-out. BUDVA got closer later in the set (19:17) but after a break asked by Smuc, the hosts brought the set to an end at 25-18.
The Slovenians played with energy and high intensity also in the early stages of the third set claiming a four-point lead (8:4). However, BUDVA stormed back and ACH Volley found their advantage reduced to only one point at 10:9, thereby prompting a time-out by Smuc. After the break the Slovenians got back control of the game (13:9) and widened their lead to six points at the second technical time-out. Smuc took another break by the score of 18:14 and things got started again in a good way for ACH Volley that rapidly and comfortably closed the set at 25-17.
The guests were off to a better start in the fourth set leading by 3:0; the score was then levelled at 6 all and ACH Volley called for the first mandatory stop by the score of 8:7 in their favour. Their lead had increased up to four points halfway through (16:12) and even though after the injury suffered by Jan Klobucar Budvanska Rivijera BUDVA had tied the score at 19, ACH Volley could keep their focus; they missed on their first match ball but after a time-out called by Smuc, they cashed their second opportunity for the final 3:1 (25-23).
“I want to congratulate ACH Volley, they played really good tonight and with more passion than we did,” said the head coach of Budvanska Rivijera BUDVA, Slobodan Boskan. “I am only satisfied with the first set, apart from that we played without energy and were not aggressive. It is difficult to admit it but we have to acknowledge that ACH Volley deserved this victory.”
“Yes, the motivations were high and we wanted to win so badly,” admitted Tomislav Smuc, head coach of ACH Volley. “I would like to congratulate my players because they showed a good game tonight. They started badly in reception but we compensated with good blocks and this way we got some important points. They now will have short holidays and once they are back we will start preparing for the next matches that I am already looking forward to.”
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