The SuperSport Croatian Cup semifinals delivered intense volleyball action, with both men’s and women’s teams fighting for a spot in the final. Ribola Kaštela, Mladost, and Mursa Osijek emerged victorious in dramatic matchups, setting the stage for an exciting showdown on March 22 in Sisak.
Ribola Kaštela Claims Women’s Final Spot in a Five-Set Thriller
In the Women’s SuperSport Croatian Cup, Ribola Kaštela secured their place in the final after a nail-biting 3-2 (25:20, 25:19, 22:25, 23:25, 15:13) win over city rivals Marina Kaštela. The marathon match lasted 144 minutes, with Ribola taking a 2-0 lead, only for Marina to fight back and force a deciding set. At 13:13, two key blocks sealed Ribola’s hard-fought victory.
Ribola coach Mario Teppert reflected on the rollercoaster match:
“We started strong but lost focus as Marina improved. We couldn’t close the third and fourth sets, but we showed resilience and secured the win in the crucial fifth set.”
Mursa Osijek and Mladost Set for Men’s Final Clash
In the Men’s SuperSport Croatian Cup, Mursa Osijek and HAOK Mladost booked their places in the final.
Mursa Osijek dominated Centrometal in a convincing 3-0 (25:14, 25:20, 25:18) victory. The match, lasting 76 minutes, saw Mursa control the game from start to finish.
Coach Ratko Peris remained composed despite the win:
“We stayed focused, defended well, and executed our serves effectively. It was a solid performance, but we’re keeping our feet on the ground.”
Mladost Battles Past Ribola Kaštela in a Five-Set Clash
Unlike the one-sided match in Osijek, Kaštela hosted a true volleyball spectacle between Ribola Kaštela and HAOK Mladost, two of Croatia’s top teams. The defending champions, Mladost, triumphed 3-2 (25:18, 20:25, 21:25, 25:21, 15:12) after 146 minutes of high-intensity play.
Mladost started strong, comfortably taking the first set. Ribola responded with powerful serving, forcing Mladost to burn both timeouts early in the second set. The hosts turned the game around, leading 2-1 in sets after a thrilling third set.
The fourth set was a battle for every point. Ribola aimed to close the match, but Mladost fought back to force a fifth set. In the decider, Mladost pulled ahead 8-5, but Ribola kept the pressure on. At 12:11 for Mladost, Kulušić’s missed serve and Chandrinos’ crucial block gave Mladost match point at 14:11. With 15 block points compared to Ribola’s 9, Mladost sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory.
Ribola coach Ivan Rančić praised both teams:
“This was a top-tier Superliga match. We had our chances, but Mladost’s quality prevailed. Our young team is growing, and I hope we use this experience positively in the playoffs.”
Mladost coach Radovan Gačić acknowledged his team’s struggles:
“It was an incredibly tough match. We weren’t at our best apart from serving and blocking. We must improve because performances like this won’t be enough in the final or the playoffs. But reaching the final is what matters most today.”
Final Showdown in Sisak
The SuperSport Croatian Cup finals will take place on March 22 in Sisak, with Ribola Kaštela facing an as-yet-undetermined opponent in the women’s final, while Mursa Osijek and Mladost will battle for the men’s title.
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