The Bojan Stranić Volleyball Hall, often referred to as the “House of Volleyball” in Zagreb, witnessed a remarkable scene after a long hiatus – its stands brimming with over a thousand enthusiastic volleyball fans. This energetic crowd played a crucial role in spurring on the home team, HAOK Mladost, as they took on and defeated their rivals, OK Ribola Kaštela, in a captivating encounter in the 7th round of the Superliga.
The match showcased the prowess of HAOK Mladost, a club renowned for its rich trophy history. HAOK Mladost emerged victorious with a final score of 3-1. The set results were 25-19, 25-21, 23-25, and 25-22.
Key players making a significant impact for Mladost included Gabrijel Cvanciger, who scored 23 points, followed by Roko Vlašić with 11 points. On the opposing side, OK Ribola Kaštela’s top scorers were Petar Jurić with 24 points, Vukašin Cimbaljević adding 10, and Nikola Jureta with 9 points.
Reflecting on the match, HAOK Mladost’s captain, Hrvoje Pervan, acknowledged the challenge they faced. “It was a tough match with mistakes on both sides, but playing in front of such an incredible audience at home really tipped the scales in our favor. It’s been a while since we’ve felt this kind of support, and we hope it continues in future matches,” he remarked. His teammate, Gabrijel Cvanciger, also expressed gratitude towards the fans, “We defeated our biggest rival in an excellent match, and it’s all thanks to our supporters. We look forward to seeing them in upcoming games.”
In the other matches of the 7th Round:
- Split, under the guidance of coach Igor Omrčen, defeated Zadar 3-0 (13, 19, 23) after 80 minutes of play, earning their first 2 points. They are now second to last in the standings, with Zadar at the bottom.
- Centrometal outplayed Mursa Osijek, winning 3-1 (18:25, 25:20, 25:22, 25:22) in a 108-minute match at their home court. After not leading at any point in the first set, they made a strong comeback, eventually taking the lead in the latter half of the subsequent sets. This victory pushed Mursa Osijek down to fourth place.
- Kitro Varaždin secured two valuable points away against Sisak, with a scoreline of 3-1 (21:25, 25:16, 25:20, 25:15) over 104 minutes, maintaining their position close to the leaders in fifth place.
- In a local derby, Rijeka emerged victorious against Rovinj, winning 3-1 (22:25, 25:17, 26:24, 25:20) after 121 minutes of play.
- The final match of the round took place in Slavonski Brod, where Marsonia dominated Medicinar Trnje, winning 3-0 (20, 21, 21) in 85 minutes.