Crvena Zvezda - OK Partizan 3:0 (play-off, semifinal, 5th match)

Well, that was it.

By the way, the official match report can go to hell with all that butt-kissing for the other side. Thank you.

In the first set we kept the pace. We equalized from 7:4 to 7:7, then from 12:10 to 12:12, what is more, we even took the lead (12:14). We kept it until 19:19, then Zvezda took it back, but we were constantly behind them with one, or maybe just two points. In the finish they could speed back as much that they won the set with two (2) points. (25:23)
For the second set we seemingly ran out of air. 5:2, 7:3, 12:5 - from here we resurrected to 13:11, but Zvezda didn’t slow down (17:12, 19:15), while we were just trying to find our breath. They won it to 25:18, but hope still didn’t die (at least not for Average Fan).
Most probably nor did it for the boys either, because in the third set we equalized from 5:1 to 5:5. We kept the pace with them, nip-and-tuck (7:7, 8:8). Then it was 10:9, then suddenly 16:11. We reduced the difference to 18:16, but Zvezda adjusted it to 20:17. Partizan didn’t give up. We fought hard and brave, we were dauntless and for this there goes a shoutout and a big respect to the team. We were behind them for the whole time, in the finish we even equalized (23:23), we didn’t let them run away (24:24), finally with blood and sweat they won to 26:24. With this Zvezda qualified to the final, where Vojvodina have been waiting for them with open arms.

Dear Fans,
Let’s pay our respect to head coach Vladimir Vasović with a silent and respectful standing-up and saluting, because he had to build up this team from scratch, after practically everyone left last summer and he had only very young players to count on. And still the team could make it to the semifinal, where we caused heavy, sweaty nightmares to Zvezda.
A high-five and hats off to all the players of OK Partizan for putting out their heart and soul, making it to the semifinal, especially that there was a period during the regular season when the danger of being dropped out of the superliga was seriously in the air. I’m very proud of all of you.
Probably not just me :)

(photo: zurnal.rs)

Crvena Zvezda: Okolić (13 - 1 ace), Jevtić (libero), Đurđević, Skrbić, Gmitrović, Milutinović (5), Jakovljević (9), Stojsavljević (4), Munćan (1), Blagojević (20 - 1 ace), Veljović, Buculjević (3 - 3 aces)
Head coach: Dragan Kobiljski

OK Partizan: Buša (10), Pantić (8), Nedeljković, Žugić, Lopar (3), Kostić, Rajković (libero), Jokanović (1), Veličković (14 - 2 aces), Polomac (4), Popović, Perišić
Head coach: Vladimir Vasović