Polish Cup: ZAKSA lift the trophy for third year in a row, ninth in club’s history. 3-0 over Jastrzebski Wegiel in final!
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After successes of 2019 and 2021 (not assigned in 2020 due covid),
ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle win Polish Cup for third time in a row, ninth in club history (2000, 2001, 2002, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022), which is a record achievement.
The Kędzierzyn-Koźle side thus defended the title in the competition from a year ago, taking revenge on Jastrzębski for losing this season’s Super Cup.
In today’s final, they celebrated a heavy 3-0 (25:20, 25:15, 25:19) to Jastrzebski Wegiel, who suffered absence of Gladyr, as well as the hard fought tie break played yesterday, in semifinal.
ZAKSA’s block (11 vs. 4 the winning ones) works very good, reading the rivals’ play. In fact, all players struggled in attack: 38% and 12% efficiency in attack for Clevenot, 28% and 0% efficiency in attack for Hadrava and even 24% and -8% efficiency in attack for Fornal. Deservedly MVP awards to Janusz who, in addition to well managed his teammates (55% and 42% team efficiency in attack), scored 2 blocks and 1 ace.
About the match, after a block over Clevenot (2-3), the Frenchman put down the ball of 4-3, send out the ball who is worth the 6-4. But this will be the only one double advantage on this set for Jastrzebski. Semeniuk level the score put down the ball of 6-6, and then Clevenot send out the one of 9-10. ZAKSA made 3 break point in a row with a counterattack by Sliwka (12-14), a winning block by Smith and Kaczmarek over Fornal (12-15)
and another counterattack that bears the sign of Kaczmarek, 12-16. Macyra try to reopen the set with an ace, and an error from Janusz marks the 16-17. However, an invasion of Fornal (16-18) basically close this first set in advance, also with an error from Hadrava (19-22). Irrilevant the double change Tervarportti-Boyer, as Sliwka signs the 20-24 and Fornal crash over ZAKSA’s block: 20-25.
Smith open the second set with an ace, Huber marks the 2-1 and Hadrava the 4-2. Again, this was one and only double advantage of the set Jastrzebski: error from Hadrava (4-4), ace by Semeniuk (4-5) and an attack out from Macyra, replaced by Cedzynski. An ace by Janus and another block on Fornal are worth the 6-10. A block over Hadrava closed a long action, 10-15, and Czech opposite is replaced by Boyer, who signs his first point on 14-18, but then he was blocked: 14-20. Smith closed this set: 15-25.
Third set and first two breaks for ZAKSA: error in reception by Clevenot, and don’t close in attack (2-4), but Semeniuk yes: counterattack of 4-7. Kaczmarek send out the 6-7, but close the ball of 8-11. An ace from Semeniuk and another counterattack from Kaczmarek after a defense on Hadrava are worth the heavy 9-14. Baroti on the field in place of the same Hadrava but, after an error by Sliwka and a counterattack by Fornal
(12-14), Hungarian opposite suffered the blocked of 12-16. Semeniuk’s counterattacks closed definitely the game: Hadrava back to the court, but he send out the ball of 15-22. At first match point, close a block from Janusz on Clevenot, and 19-25 is the final score!
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🏐| 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)
• Jastrzebski Wegiel – Asseco Resovia Rzeszow 3-2 (25:14, 25:19, 23:25, 25:27, 15:12)
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🏐| Final | February 27
• Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn Kozle – Jastrzebski Wegiel
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