Ljubljana, Slovenia, December 20, 2011. In a dramatic match in Ljubljana' sports hall Stožice ACH Volley LJUBLJANA was not able to stop the Polish favorite PGE Skra Belchatow, who were successful in securing the top position in Pool F and in the Playoff 12.
ACH Volley Ljubljana : PGE Skra BELCHATOW 0:3 (32:34, 18:25, 21:25). Sports hall Stožice. Spectators: 7700. Referees: Micevski (Macedonia), Yener (Turkey). ACH Volley Ljubljana: Flajs, Lewis (libero), Komel, Šket, Kamnik, Klobučar, Vinčić, Kovačević, Čebulj, Ropret, Rašić, Simac. Coach: Igor Kolaković. PGE Skra Belchatow: Wlazly, Plinski, Kooistra, Klos, Kurek, Milczarek, Čupković, Falasca, Woicki, Atanasijević, Zatorski (libero), Bakiewicz. Coach: Jacek Nawrocki.
The beginning alone already set the tone of tonight's match – difficult and nerve-racking. The home team quickly took the initiative and the lead but the Poles soon caught up. Afterwards the teams kept exchanging in the lead position and it was only after a long set-final full of surprises that an ace by Wlazly gave the winning team of the first set.
In the second set ACH Volley' players allowed the guests to escape and only managed to catch up right after the first technical time-out (9:10). But the Polish captain Wlazly and his team did not let themselves be distracted from their goal. Despite the efforts of the home team they gained a six-points lead and won the second set 18:25.
in the third set the guest team once again took the imitative and after a 6:8 lead the Polish players put their performance in an even higher gear, finally celebrating a maximum win. Yet one question remains: "Would the outcome be the same if the home team won the first set?”
ACH Volley's coach Igor Kolaković said that the first set was extremely tough on both teams and the winner was then the team that gained the upper hand in the second set as the first one. The captain of the home team Flajs also added: "Unfortunately we were not able to repeat our performance from Poland. We lacked focus and made too many mistakes.” According to the Polish team the first set is crucial in volleyball as it usually sets the tone of the next one, especially when the teams lose a lot of energy fighting for the points. (PR)