Poland: Belchatow fail to beat Jastrzębski even after 5 years! 3-0 in second semifinal Game 1

After the upset in first match of the day, in which No.4 Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie defeat regular season winners Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle on the road by 1-3 (25:22, 17:25, 22:25, 25:25), prevailing at home in Game 1 of the other semi-final with a score of 3-0 (25:14, 30:28, 26:24) the regular-season runners-up Jastrzębski Węgiel continued their great series of wins against PGE Skra Bełchatów (No.3).
The last time they lost to Skra in PlusLiga was, in fact, in February 2017!

It was a great match for Jastrzębski, finally back to play at high level, led by a great performance for Czech opposite Jan Hadrava, from the service line author of 4 aces and 5 errors through 21 serves, as well as 1 block, 50% and 46% efficiency in attack and 17 points.

After a very bad first set, Skra
led by Atanasijevic and Bieniek (on the field despite two broken ribs after an injury suffered in quarterfinal Game 3 against Olsztyn) started to play, but wastes 2 set points in second and third set, without taking a single set.

In first set Jastrzebski start in a perfect way with aces from Hadrava, 4-2, and the finally recovered Gladyr, 7-4. Fornal’s block over Ebadipour is worth the 9-5, and then he score also the counterattack of 11-6. Really a terrible performance for the guests, who collapsed with Hadrava’s serves, until a clear 17-9, and all ends on 25-14.

In second set, another great start for Jastrzebski 6-2, but this time the rivals are able to react with Klos from the service line, and they managed to level the score, 6-6, and then to surpass with a Bieniek’s winning block: 7-8. After a first set to forget, also Ebadipour and Kooy appear, and the set is very balanced until the end, when Szymura sent out the ball of 22-23. Wisniewski blocks Ebadipour, 24-23, but Bieniek signs the counterattack of 24-25. Useless the 2 set points, as Hadrava scores the 27-26 with an ace, Klos don’t close the counterattack and Wisniewski put down the ball of 30-28.

Skra don’t agree, and led by Atanasijevic’s serves, try to escape in third set with a 1-4 lead. Jastrzebski manage to level the score at 9-9, and then take advantage from an error by Kooy, and then with two points from Gladyr and Szymura, 12-10. Kooy leave the field for Taht, and another great series from the service line by Atanasijevic (conterattack and 3 aces) give the guests the 12-15. Then Szymura attacks out the ball 12-16. Szymura redeem himself with the ace of 14-16, the block on Ebadipour that level the score 19-19, and the poi counterattack of 20-19. Bieniek put down the ace of 21-22, and a block from Atanasjevic is worth the 21-23. Counterattack from Taht, and 21-24. At this point, however, the Belchatow suffered the blows of Hadrava, who signs the 22-24 and then he go to serve: defense on Klos thats is worth Szymura’s counterattack, 23-24, error reception close by Gladyr, 24-24, block on Atanasijevic, 25-24, and the decisive ace of 26-24.
And MVP award, of course.

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🏐| PLUSLIGA 2021/22 | Playoffs Semifinals

–Game 1—

April 23
• Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) – Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (4) 1-3 (25:22, 17:25, 22:25, 25:25) Serie: 0-1

• Jastrzebski Węgiel (2) – PGE Skra Belchatów (3) 3-0 (25:14, 30:28, 26:24) Serie: 1-0
Jastrzebski Wegiel: Toniutti 2, Fornal 10, Wisniewski 4, Hadrava 17, Szymura 15, Gladyr 12, Popiwczak (L); Boyer 1, Tervaportti 0, Clevenot 0. Not entered: Cedzynski, Biniek (L), Macyra. Coach: Giolito.
PGE Skra Betchatow: Lomacz 0, Ebadipour 4, Bieniek 10, Atanasijevic 16, Kooy 6, Klos 5, Piechocki (L); Sawicki 0, Schulz 2, Taht 2, Mitic 0. Not entered: Adamczyk, Milczarek, Czerwinski. Coach: Kovac.
MVP: Hadrava.

–Game 2—

April 26
• Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (4) – Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) 0-3 (20:25, 21:25, 21:25) Serie: 1-1

• PGE Skra Belchatow (3) – Jastrzebski Wegiel (2) 0-3 (18:25, 22:25, 19:25) Serie: 0-2

–Game 3—

April 30
• Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) – Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (4) 3-1 (19:25, 25:21, 25:19, 25:13) Serie: 2-1

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