Women’s First League: Vardar and Gazeli Voley prevail in tie-breaks
Two weekend matches in round two went to five sets as Gazeli Voley and ZOK Vardar EM edged rivals to extend winning runs.
In the second round of the Women’s First League on October 25, 2026, two matches were decided in dramatic tie-breaks as Gazeli Voley and ZOK Vardar EM extended their winning runs with narrow 3:2 victories.
At the Forca Sports Centre, Gazeli Voley and Mladost UGD produced a roller-coaster encounter marked by momentum swings and long rallies. Gazeli opened confidently and led 1:0 and then 2:1 in sets, but Mladost repeatedly fought back to stay in contention.
The decisive fifth set proved to be the real test: Mladost held two-point leads at 4:6 and 11:13 and even reached match point at 13:14, but could not convert. Gazeli Voley kept their composure when it mattered most and closed the set 16:14 to claim the win. For Mladost UGD this is the second straight match they have lost in five sets.
In Skopje’s Nevena Georgieva Dunja hall city rivals Janta Voley KV and ZOK Vardar EM also went the distance. The hosts started strongly and grabbed the first set, but Vardar recovered and took a 2:1 lead. Janta forced a fifth set — their second consecutive match to reach a tie-break after last weekend in Shtip — yet this time they fell short.
With the 3:2 triumph, the “Red-and-Blacks” recorded their second consecutive victory and remain among the league leaders. Meanwhile, Nakovski Voley moved to the top of the standings after a second straight 3:0 win, this time against debutants Flamingo Voley.
Round 2 results (Women’s First League)
- Rabotnicki Skopje – Strumica Zheni 3:0 (25:16, 25:14, 25:17)
- Pelister Voley – Fit Fan Voley 3:0 (25:16, 25:16, 25:22)
- Flamingo Voley – Nakovski Voley 0:3 (11:25, 19:25, 17:25)
- Janta Voley KV – ZOK Vardar EM 2:3 (25:15, 14:25, 22:25, 25:20, 7:15)
- Gazeli Voley – Mladost UGD 3:2 (25:19, 18:25, 25:17, 18:25, 16:14)
Nakovski Voley, Rabotnicki Skopje and Pelister Voley celebrated convincing victories in round two, while two matches — for Gazeli and Vardar — were settled only in the tie-breaks.
Photo: press material from the event
