Poland: ZAKSA and Jastrzebski win semifinals Game 1!

The semifinal Games 1 of the Polish Plusliga were played this afternoon.
In the first match ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle of coach Nikola Grbic, ruler of the regular season and Champions League finalist, respected the odds by beating PGE Skra Belchatow in straight sets.
Great performance also from the service line: 8 aces with only 10 errors, and so the rivals almost never managed to get into the game (with the exception of the comeback attempt in the first set from 18:13 to 23:22). Lot of difficulties in attack for the guests, with Petkovic with 50% in attack, but only 17% efficiency, and Sander with only 25% and even -5% efficiency.
A super game instead for MVP Sliwka: 17 points, 63% in attack, and 57% efficiency, 2 blocks and 3 aces.
Definitely more balanced was the other match in which Jastrzebski Wegiel overcame VERVA Warszawa ORLEN Paliwa at the tie-break. Hosts superior in attack (60% and 45% efficiency vs 48% and 32%), but the guests remain attached to the match thanks also to the blocks of Nowakowski (6) and Wrona (5) and too many errors in the serve by the hosts (28 against 19), which also has 2 aces less (6 against 8).
The decisive set remains in the balance up to 7:7 but then Al Hachdadi (25 points with 66% in attack and 63% efficiency) in counterattack (9: 7) and Gladyr (MVP of the match with an impressive 92% in attack , 2 blocks and 2 aces) dig the break: 11:8.
Wrona’s block on Fornal (12:11) reopens the game, but nothing to do, and the 15:12 is an error from the service line of Superlak, deployed in the tie-break in place of the well-marked Krol.

In the other match played today, Asseco Resovia (without Szerszen) beats Trefl Gdansk 3-1 (who leaves 4 starters on the bench) in the first leg of the final for 5th place.

• Asseco Resovia Rzeszow – Trefl Gdansk 3-1 (25:23, 22:25, 25:22, 25:18)
Top Scorers: Cebulj 19, Domagala 15, Buszek 9, Butryn 8, Jendryk 7; Sasak 20, Reichert 14, Pietruczuk 11, Urbanowicz 7. MVP: Cebulj.

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| 2020/21 Polish PlusLiga playoff semifinals – Game 1:
| April 3, 2021
• Grupa Azoty ZAKSA KQdzierzyn-Kozle (1) – PGE Skra Belchatow (4) 3-0 (25:23, 25:17, 25:20) MVP: Sliwka

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• Jastrzebski Wegiel (2) – VERVA Warszawa ORLEN Paliwa (6) 3-2 (25:20, 23:25, 25:23, 22:25, 15:12)
MVP: Gladyr

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| Program Game 2
| April 7
• PGE Skra Belchatow (4) – Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) 3-1 (31:29, 17:25, 27:25, 25:20)
• VERVA Warszawa ORLEN Paliwa (6) – Jastrzebski Wegiel (2) 1-3 (29:27, 27:29, 20:25, 24:26)

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| Game 3 – April 11
• Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) – PGE Skra Belchatow (4) 3-0 (25:23, 25:19, 25:21)

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