As prediction, regular season winners and European Champions of Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle is second semifinalist of 2021/22 Plusliga after No.3 PGE Skra Belchatow (2-0 also their best-of-three series against No.6 Indykpol AS Olsztyn).
Today, on Easter Monday, the guys around coach Cretu defeated 1-3 (29:27, 19:25, 20:25, 19:25) GKS Katowice, which changed their small hall Szopienice due to an increased interest of their fans for the match for a huge and a legendary place for Polish volleyball, Spodek, failed to change the disastrous statistics against ZAKSA this season of 3 defeats in 3 games.
After a hard fought first set, ended 29-27 in which they are even 24-21, led by Huber (MVP with 22 points, 15/21, 75% and 70% efficiency in attack, 6 winning blocks and 1 ace), ZAKSA regain the control of the game, and were able to close it without major problems second and third set while, in decisive third, they pursued the rivals until 19-17 until a decisive 1-8 break. Good also Kaczmarek, who ended the game with 17 points and 50% and 44% efficiency in attack, while Semeniuk (14 points, 38% in attack and only 17% efficiency) and Sliwka (39% and 28% efficiency in attack) were not at their top.
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🏐| PLUSLIGA 2021/22 | Playoffs Quarterfinals
–Game 1—
April 12
• PGE Skra Belchatów (3) – Indykpol AS Olsztyn (6) 1-3 (25:19, 24:26, 26:28, 14:25)
• Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (4) – Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (5) 3-1 (27:25, 24:26, 25:20, 27:25)
| April 13
• Jastrzebski Wegiel (2) – Trefl Gdańsk (7) 2-3 (28:26, 25:18, 18:25, 21:25, 13:15)
• Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) – GKS Katowice (8) 3-0 (25:21, 25:12, 25:22)
–Game 2—
April 15
• Indykpol AZS Olsztyn – PGE Skra Belchatow 0-3 (21:25, 13:25, 23:25) Serie: 1-1
• Asseco Resovia Rzeszów – Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie 1-3 (25:19, 23:25, 23:25, 22:25) Serie: 0-2
April 16
• Trefl Gdansk- Jastrzebski Wegiel 0-3 (23:25, 23:25, 14:25) Serie: 1-1
👉🏼 April 18
• GKS Katowice – Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle 1-3 (29:27, 19:25, 20:25, 19:25) Serie: 0-2
Katowice: Ma’a 8, Szymanski 9, Kania 7, Jarosz 9, Quiroga 12, Hain 6, Marianski (L); Drzazga 0, Lewandowski 3, Kogut 0, Nowosielski 1, Rousseaux 4, Domagala 5, Ogorek (L). Coach: Staby.
ZAKSA: Janusz 2, Sliwka 11, Smith 12, Kaczmarek 17, Semeniuk 14, Huber 22, Shoji (L); Kluth 1. Not entered: Rejno, Staszewski, Kalembka, Kozlowski, Zalinski, Banach (L). Coach: Cretu.
–Game 3—
April 19
• PGE Skra Betchatów (3) – Indykpol AS Olsztyn (6) 3-2 (29:27, 23:25, 25:19, 22:25, 15:13)
April 20
• Jastrzebski Wegiel (2) – Trefl Gdansk (7) 3-0 (25:17, 25:16, 25:18) Serie: 2-1
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