Polish Cup: final is Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn Kozle – Jastrzebski Wegiel!

Semifinals of 2021/22 Polish Cup were played in Wroclaw today.

As predictable, ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle, still unbeaten in Plusliga, was first finalist.
In first semifinal they defeat Trefl Gdansk with lot of problems for Wlazy (0% efficiency in attack) and Mika (12% efficiency in attack), today on the field in place of Reichert.

About the match, first set was very balanced until 13-13, then Gdansk start to suffer the rivals’ play, with a block from Kaczmarek on Wlazly (15-13), and error in
attack from Mika (16-13), another error in attack from Wlazly (17-13), and Mika again (18-13), and another error in attack from Wlazly, which mark the 19-13. Despite the entry of Sasak in place of expert opposite, it’s too late: Kaczmarek adds a
counterattack (21-14) and an ace (24-16), while an error from the service line by Lipinski close on 25-17.

Better start for Gdansk in second set with an ace from Lipinski (3-4), an error by Kaczmarek (3-5), another ace this time from Mordyl on Sliwka (4-7), and another ace from Urbanowicz (7-11). Mordyl signs the 8-13, while Sliwka give the 9-15. An error from Mika (12-16), is worth first break point in this set for
ZAKSA, that start again with an impressive streak of points like in first set with Sliwka (14-17), counterattack by Kaczmarek (15-17), winning block over Mika (16-17 and in Laba in place of Wlazly), ace from Sliwka (17-17), and a double counterattack by Kaczmarek (19-17). An error from Lipinski marks the 21-18, then a muro from Huber over Urbanowicz (22-18) and an ace from Smith (23-18) are decisive.
Then counterattack from Wlalzy (23-
20) and ZAKSA can close with Huber (25-21).

In third set ZAKSA give some errors: Sliwka in attack (3-5) and Huber (3-6), but error also from Mika (5-6), and Kaczmarek can level the score, signing the point of 7-7.
Sliwka put down the counterattack of 8-7, but then he is blocked from Lipinski (8-9). Wlazly give the 10-9, and Mordyl signs a new lead, 12-13. New surpass with Semeniuk’s ace (14-13) and a Janus’ block on Mika (15-13).
Kampa leveled the score again with the ace of 16-16, and an error by Smith (18-19) and an ace from Wlazly (19-21) give a new advantage for the team from Gdansk. Semeniuk blocks Wlazly to level the score again, 21-21 but, at first set point, Mika punish Sliwka’s error in reception, and it’s 23-25 and 2-1!

In fourth set Lipinski take advantage from a free ball, and an error from Kaczmarek is worth tje 0-2, but Huber in blocking is a monster: he stops Mika (2-2), Mordyl (3-2) and Wlazly (4-2 e 7-4). The same Wlazly give also the 10-6, and then he was blocked: 11-6.
Semeniuk’s counterattack marks the 13-7 and on 14-8 Janus left the field due a calf problem. Gdansk try to reopen set and game with an ace from Kampa (17-13) and Mika’s counterattack (17-14), until the decisive sprint of ZAKSA: 7 break point in a row, until the 25-14!

ZAKSA was joined in Final from Jastrzebski Wegiel, who defeat at tie break Resovia.
After two sets literally dominated by Poland’s defending champions, the rivals managed to reopen the game by winning third and fourth set with minimum gap, but at tie break Clevenot (MVP of the match with 22 punti, 61% and 56% efficiency in attack and 5 winning blocks) made the difference with the decisive block over Szerszen, that led his team to the final.

About Resovia, don’t play Ukrainian Gladyr (naturalized Polish) apparently due a calf problem and was replaced by Macyra. Mendez left also on the bench Slovenians Kozamernik and Cebulj, with Tammemaa and Szerszen on the field.
Great start for Gardini’s guys, with 4 break points (Macyra 1-0, Clevenot 2-0, block on Muzaj 4-1, Fornal counterattack 6-2) and then three blocks in a row: Macyra on Tammemaa (10-6), Clevenot on Deroo (11-6) and another on Muzaj (12-6). Fornal’s counterattack (15-8) basically close the set (actually closed with a block by Clevenot over Muzaj, 25-14).

Start of second set, with Cebulj and Kozamernik on the field for Resovia, is more balanced. Jastrzebski try to escape with an ace from Hadrava (9-8), counterattacks from Macyra (10-8) and Hadrava (12-9) and another block over Muzaj (15-11). An ace by Fornal is worth the 18-13 close also second set in advance, that end 25-19 on Fornal’s attack.

In third set Kozamernik blocks Hadrava (3-5) and Fornal (4-7), while Jastrzebski give 3 errors
in attack with Wisniewski (5-9) and Hadrava (5-10 and 6-12). Despite
Szerszen’s counterattack, 12-17. Jastrzebski reopen the set with Hadrava and Fornal, as well as an error from Kochanowski that is worth a dangerous 18-19. Clevenot in fact level the score, 20-20, but Muzaj
signs a new +2 20-22. Resovia close with Szerszen, 23-25.

In fourth set, break for Jastrzebski with an ace from Hadrava, an error by Cebulj and a counterattack from Clevenot, 3-0. Resovia reply thanks to an error from Hadrava (5-4) and a counterattack from Szerszen, author also of the surpass, 8-9. Kochanowski put down the ace of
+2, 9-11, Kozamernik blocks Hadrava and Szerszen close the ball
of 11-15. Blocks of Fornal over Muzaj and of Hadrava over Szerszen, 14-15, reopen the set, and a super Clevenot level the score, 17-17. Cebuli don’t agree, with the point of 18-20, and advantage well managed from Resovia, but Clevenot put down the ball of 24-24 who, however, suffered the block that is worth 25-27, the only one of the match.

Clevenot restart with 2 points in a row, while a block by Kochanowski over Hadrava marks the 6-6. Balanced until the block over Szerzen that is worth 14-12. Cebulj don’t close in attack, while Hadrava yes, and put down the decisive ball of 15-12.

_______________________

🏐| Polish Cup – Final Four @ Wroclaw

| Semifinals – February 26, 2022

• Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle
Trefl Gdansk 3-1 (25:17, 25:21, 23:25, 25:14)
MVP: Kaczmarek

_______________________

• Jastrzebski Wegiel – Asseco Resovia Rzeszow 3-2 (25:14, 25:19, 23:25, 25:27, 15:12)
Jastrzebski: Toniutti O, Fornal 16, Wisniewski 5, Hadrava 21, Clevenot 22, Macyra 10, Popiwczak (L); Boyer 0, Tervaportti O, Cedzynski O, Szymura 0. Not entered: Gladyr, Szwed, Biniek (L). Coach: Gardini.
Resovia: Drzyzga 0, Deroo 4, Tammemaa 0, Muzaj 20, Szerszen 17, Kochanowski 14, Zatorski (L); Kozamernik 8, Bucki 0, Woicki 0,
Buszek 0, Cebulj 13. Not entered: Krulicki, Potera (L). Coach: Mendez.

_______________________

🏐| Final | February 27
• 14.45 Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn Kozle – Jastrzebski Wegiel

_______________________