Slovenia's Dejan Vincic and Danijel Koncilja close the block to stop Puerto Rico's Sequiel Sanchez.
Thessaloniki, Greece, June 25, 2016 - Slovenia claimed the first of three available tickets to the Final Four of FIVB Volleyball World League Group 3 next weekend in Frankfurt, after taking little time to beat Puerto Rico by 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-12).
The 2015 European Championship silver medallists join hosts Germany for the finals, while a second ticket could be decided later today in Thessaloniki if Greece can beat Qatar to tie with undefeated Slovenia at the top of the group standings.
Puerto Rico were more efficient than their opponents in attacking in the first two sets, but gave the impression of having given up in the third.
The Caribbean side struggled with reception as Slovenia piled on the pressure from the service line, serving 10 aces (four by Mitja Gasparini alone) to 1 and restricting Puerto Rico to just 32%.
Gasparini led Slovenia with 12 points, as Alen Pajenk and Tine Urnaut added another 8 each.
Steven Morales and Kevin Lopez scored 6 each for Puerto Rico.