Calcit Volley Triumphs over Viking TIF Bergen in Challenge Cup Preliminary Round

In a thrilling showdown, the Calcit Volley team delivered an impressive performance on their home court as they overcame the Norwegian squad, Viking TIF Bergen, with a resounding 3-0 victory (15-18-16) in the first match of the Challenge Cup preliminary round. With 250 spectators cheering them on, Calcit Volley exhibited their dominance throughout the match, and they are now poised for advancement, needing just two more sets to secure their place in the next round.

The Kamnik Sports Hall provided the backdrop for this exciting contest, with the match officiated by referees Jambor from Hungary and Oravainen from Finland.

Calcit Volley: Planinšič, Vinkovič, Lazar 1, Karadža Pevc (L), Košenina (L), Nikolić 6, Okroglič 9, Bošnjak 11, Mitrašinović 9, Brunet 3, Oman 1, Bakonji 3, Mujanović 4, Pavlović 5. Coach: Mladen Kašić.

Viking TIF Bergen: Bjelland 12, Olsen (L), Hopland 1, Soereng 1, Brekke, Sunde 3, Henriksen 1, Haldorsen 5, Langlo, Eikland 4. Coach: Scott Olsen.

The Norwegian team was a relative unknown to the Slovenian runners-up, Calcit Volley, who had not dropped a single set in their domestic league. In contrast, Viking TIF Bergen had recorded one win and one loss. However, Calcit Volley displayed their superiority in all three sets, leaving little doubt about their progress to the next round of the Challenge Cup.

In the opening set, the Norwegians took an early lead at 2-0, thanks to Mads Soereng's serve and an ace by Asmund Sunde, putting them at 7-4. Nevertheless, the home team quickly leveled the score at the eighth point, and with Jure Okroglič's blocking, they secured their first lead. The last tie in the first set occurred at the eleventh point, but after Uroš Nikolić's block and Okroglič's serve, the Kamnik team surged ahead by five points (16-11). The guests, who struggled with their offense, could only manage to claim three more points in the set. The opening set, where the home team maintained a remarkable 63% attack rate, concluded with an authoritative point from Okroglič.

In the second set, the Norwegian side kept pace with Kamnik until the sixth point, but after Nikolić's serve and their own mistake, the home team took a 10-6 lead. The Kamnik squad extended their lead further with Bernard Bakonji's serve and two consecutive points from Tomislav Mitrašinović (13-7), effectively sealing the second set. The home team continued to excel in their offensive play, maintaining a high level of reception for the initial hits, and Črtomir Bošnjak contributed with three aces.

In the third set, Calcit Volley's head coach, Mladen Kašić, provided opportunities for some of the squad's younger players. Planinšič and Nik Mujanović made way for Bakonji and Mitrašinović midway through the second set. Luka Lazar took the block position instead of Bošnjak, and the young Jurij Oman entered the game later. However, the balance of power on the court remained unchanged. The guests briefly tied the score at 5-5 in the third set, but after two consecutive aces from Mitrašinović, Kamnik took a 9-5 lead. Following another ace, this time from Okroglič, Kamnik was ahead 14-7, effectively closing out the match. Okroglič secured the first match point, and just like the second set, the third set ended with a self-inflicted error by the guests.

With this impressive 3-0 win, Calcit Volley is now on the cusp of advancing to the next round of the Challenge Cup. The team's exceptional performance and dominance in all three sets left their fans with high hopes for their journey in the tournament. The second leg of this thrilling matchup is scheduled for tomorrow at 19:00, where Kamnik's team only needs to win two sets to secure their progression.

Post-Match Statement

Mladen Kašić, Calcit Volley Coach: "Energetically, we didn't play this game at the same level as we have in our domestic league so far, as it was evident from the beginning that the Norwegian team is not of a lower quality. However, despite that, we played seriously throughout, preventing any surprises. We secured all the sets convincingly, with more or less everyone getting a chance to play. In tomorrow's match, one of our goals will be to maintain our serious approach, without underestimating the opponent, while also trying to give all our players an opportunity, as we have a league match in Kanal coming up on Saturday."