Gasparini in one of many successful attacks against Tunisia
Ljubljana, Slovenia, June 18, 2016 – Home crowd favourite and World League rookie Slovenia faced Tunisia in their second match of the preliminary round, winning the match 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-22).
Top scorers of the match for the local team were Mitja Gasparini (15), Klemen Čebulj (11) and Alen Pajenk (8). On Tunisia's side Othmen stood out again with 11 points. Slovenia won their debut match against Qatar by dropping one set, while FIVB Ranking No 16 Tunisia, lost their opening match in straight sets against very strong Venezuela. South Americans are the next to face Slovenians. For North Africans this is already third successive appearance in the 27th edition of the annual men’s tournament.
Slovenia had a good start into the match by taking the lead at 12-7 and left Tunisia trailing. Following Mitja Gaspirini’s good serves and Alen Pajenk's spikes Slovenia went up by nine points at 21-12. It was Gasparini (top scorer of the set with 6 points, including 3 aces) who aced the set up for inspired Slovenians at 25-17.
Andrea Giani’s team didn’t lose their fighting spirit also in the second set when they took the lead by three points at 8-5 and built it up to five at 15-10. They put an end to the set at 25-20.
The same scenario unfolded in the last set with Slovenians, in front of the roaring fans, gaining more confidence and taking the lead by three points at 8-5. But, only a few minutes of the relax on Slovenia's side, Tunisians caught up at 9-all and again at 15-all to take the lead for the first time in the match at 18-16. Last year’s European Championships runner-up soon regained their momentum and pulled away once again by four points at 22-18 with a great play of Klemen Čebulj. Fired-up Slovenians did not look back and closed it with the first set point at 25-22 to capture the second win in the World League.