UNIZA Zilina Women secured their place in the next round of the Slovakia Cup with a 3-0 sweep of SVK Pezinok Women (25-19, 25-16, 25-21) on Wednesday night.

Match Overview

Zilina started strongly, taking an early 8-4 lead in the first set and maintaining a comfortable cushion throughout. Pezinok briefly threatened in the second set, tying the score at 10-10, but Zilina responded with a decisive 7-1 run to take control. The third set was the most competitive, with Pezinok leading 18-17, but Zilina’s experience and composure in the closing points proved decisive.

Key Moments

The third set was the highlight of the match. Trailing 18-17, Zilina turned to outside hitter Sofia Krajcová, who delivered three consecutive kills to swing the momentum. A subsequent block from middle blocker Andrea Sluková gave Zilina a 22-20 lead, and they held on to complete the sweep. The second-set run, sparked by four aces from setter Barbora Koseková, was equally crucial.

Tactical Story

Zilina’s serve was aggressive and effective, recording ten aces and consistently disrupting Pezinok’s reception. Defensively, Zilina’s block was well-organized, forcing Pezinok into off-speed shots that their backcourt easily handled. Pezinok, meanwhile, struggled to contain Zilina’s pin hitters and were often caught out of rotation.

Standout Players

Krajcová led the scoring with 16 points, including three aces, while Sluková added 11 points and five blocks. Libero Martina Šimonová was outstanding in defense, repeatedly keeping rallies alive. For Pezinok, outside hitter Zuzana Králová scored 12 points but was forced into difficult swings throughout.

Cup Context

UNIZA Zilina Women move into the next round with confidence, having conceded just one set in their opening two cup fixtures. SVK Pezinok Women exit the competition but will take valuable experience back to their league campaign.