ACH Volley and OTP Banka Branik victorious in Slovenian Cup Finals
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The 2025/2026 edition of the Slovenian Cup, which had started back in October with the participation of 48 women’s and 32 men’s teams, reached its peak on January 31 in Zlatorog Hall. For the first time, the finals were held in Celje – a city usually synonymous with handball glory. The event proved to be a major success, demonstrating a high level of interest in Volleyball in the area. OTP Banka Branik MARIBOR reclaimed the women’s throne, securing their 21st National Cup title in a hard-fought win against GEN-I Volley, while ACH Volley LJUBLJANA dominated in the clash against Panvita Pomgrad to claim their 16th Cup trophy.
Women’s Final: OTP Banka Branik MARIBOR vs. GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA 3-1 (25-18, 18-25, 25-22, 25-23)
The afternoon in Celje, where Volleyball is becoming more and more popular and the number of kids playing the sport has grown from 80 in 2022 to almost 250, started with the women’s final between serial winner OTP Banka Branik and GEN-I Volley – whose last success in the competition was claimed in the 2008/2009 season. The Maribor-based team entered the arena with a clear mission: to claim their 21st Cup title. They started aggressively, taking the first set with ease. The Maribor side was led by an unstoppable opposite Iza Mlakar, who left her mark on the final match with 30 points and later earned the MVP award. Despite a spirited comeback by the team from Nova Gorica in the second and especially third set, Branik’s experience proved decisive in the closing moments.
“Nerves played a part in our counter-attacks in the decisive moments of the game. This was the first final for most of us. We have room for improvement here, and we will definitely work on this as we prepare for the league playoffs. It is a pity when you put in so much effort and just fall slightly short. However, I am still happy that we showcased such a performance, and we hope for even better results in the future,” GEN-I Volley middle blocker Ajda Gornjec Hodnik commented.
“I think that for matches like the Cup finals, where everything comes down to a single game, all teams prepare thoroughly, and the atmosphere is different – even more fuelled by a winning spirit. GEN-I Volley showed an excellent performance, especially in their defence. They were really saving many balls, making it difficult for us to score points from attacks, but I am truly proud of our team for staying focussed. Even in difficult moments, we kept attacking, and in the end, it ended in our favour,” the setter of OTP Banka Branik Žana Ivana Halužan Sagadin concluded.
Men’s Final: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA vs. Panvita Pomgrad MURSKA SOBOTA 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-17)
ACH Volley continues their reign in Slovenian men’s Volleyball by winning their 16th Cup title. The ‘Orange Dragons’ were too strong an opponent for Panvita Pomgrad, which reached the finals for the first time in 16 years. ACH Volley controlled the match from the start to the end with superior serving and blocking and although the team from Prekmurje region fought for every point and showcased some high-level Volleyball, there was never a question as to which side would leave Celje with the trophy in their hands. The MVP title went to the experienced setter Gregor Ropret, who orchestrated his team’s offense almost to perfection.
Janž Janez Kržič, middle blocker of ACH Volley: “Today we showed our true face, entered the match with the right approach, and justified our role as favourites. We served well, played strong block and defence, and everything functioned perfectly in our attack. I must admit that Panvita Pomgrad fought well; they served effectively and caused us some trouble at times, but we stayed focused to close the match and win by 3-0.”
Urban Drvarič, the captain of Panvita Pomgrad: “We came here to enjoy ourselves and try to pull off an upset. Today, ACH Volley was the team everyone expects it to be. They definitely out-served us, and we struggled with our reception. We did everything we could and tried our best, but the quality on the other side was too high. The atmosphere was phenomenal, we truly enjoyed it, and this silver medal is a great achievement for us.”
The event in Celje was organised in the collaboration between the Volleyball Federation of Slovenia, the Municipality of Celje, and the local Volleyball Club Celje and provided an atmosphere worthy of a championship finale.
