Slovenian Snow Volleyball national championships to feature a record 12 teams per gender
News
This coming Sunday, Krvavec will be hosting the fourth edition of the Slovenian Snow Volleyball national championships. A record number of 24 teams – 12 per gender – will compete for the national titles on the snowy slopes of RTC Krvavec. The defending champions are Sara Valenčič, Teja Kolbl, Anastazija Žnidar in the women’s competition – Tadej Boženk, Danijel Pokeršnik, and Denis Robida on the men’s side.
The Volleyball Federation of Slovenia (OZS) had to increase the total number of participating teams from 16 to 24 due to exceptional interest and the large number of registrations. Additionally, four teams are on the waiting list, hoping for a chance to compete this Sunday should any of their peers withdraw.
The tournament at Krvavec has attracted current and former national team players, as well as players from the Slovenian elite volleyball league. Among them are national team players Anja Mazej and Žana Ivana Halužan Sagadin. Former members of the Slovenian national team Lana Ščuka, Sara Valenčič, and Špela Marušič will also compete for top honours.
Anja Mazej“Snow Volleyball has been a novelty in recent years, becoming increasingly popular. That is why my teammates and I decided to try our luck on the snow. I have followed Snow Volleyball competitions in the past, and I know the rules and the system, but it is not until Sunday that we will see how it all really works. Above all, we want to enjoy ourselves, but we will have to get used to the conditions and the game system first. Our goal is to reach the podium. Of course, we also hope for good weather,”
An exciting tournament is also expected in the men’s category, with 12 teams competing for the national title. Among them are the defending champions Tadej Boženk, Danijel Pokeršnik, and Denis Robida, joined this time by Matej Rapnik.
Pokeršnik admits that defending the title will not be easy. “I am really pleased that so many teams have registered for the national championship. While it means a few more matches in the battle for the title, we will do everything we can to defend our title. I have looked through the list of registered teams, and the competition is strong. We cannot underestimate anyone. Even the young teams are getting stronger. The sets are short since they are played up to 15 points, so we need to stay focused from the first to the last point and play at the highest level possible. I believe our team is in good shape, and we will also rely on our experience from previous Snow Volleyball competitions. We have a few more training sessions on sand ahead of us, and then it will all start.”
The Volleyball Federation of Slovenia is looking forward to the event at Krvavec. “Despite the spring temperatures, we hope for a successful delivery of this year’s national championship. RTC Krvavec once again provides us with great conditions, so for the third consecutive year, we will crown our national champions there. Despite Snow Volleyball being a discipline without a league competition and a one-time event, the interest in the tournament in both categories is huge. We count on favourable weather conditions and that the spectators will be able to enjoy the spectacular moves of the best Slovenian players,” said Secretary General Gregor Humerca.
RTC Krvavec leadership“We are honoured to host the national snow volleyball championship once more. We enjoy collaborating with OZS and supporting such competitions. We wish all the competitors a lot of success, determination, and fun on the snow of Krvavec."
The first matches will begin at 9:00 a.m., with the finals scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
The Slovenian national Snow Volleyball championship will also have a charitable side to it. Competitors, staff, and spectators will, at the initiative of the AED Association, raise funds to purchase an automatic external defibrillator.
