Poland: ZAKSA defeat Jastrzebski also in Game 2! Final series 2-0! Skra tie the score vs. Aluron for third place

The thriller in Game 2 of the 2021/22 Plusliga Final between Jastrzębski Węgiel and Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle went in the favor of the latter.
After a 5-set battle in which they chased Jastrzębski who had 1-0 and 2-1 lead, ZAKSA managed to prevail and are very close to winning the title for which they need one more victory.

Łukasz Kaczmarek and Kamil Semeniuk shared the top scorer’s title on the winning side with 19 points each, while Norbert Huber set up 5 blocks. Good performance for the winners in attack, 56% and 47% efficiency in attack, and MVP to middle-blocker Smith: 12 points, 75% in attack, 2
blocks and 2 aces.
Tomasz Fornal tallied 23 points for Jastrzębski.
Not a good day for opposites: 31% and 12% efficiency in attack though 26 attempts for Hadrava, 32% and only 5% efficiency though 19 balls for Boyer.

Better start for ZAKSA in first set, with a point by Kaczmarek (1-3) and an error by Fornal (1-4) that mark first break, but the rivals level the score with Hadrava, at first with an attack (3-4) and then with the ace of 6-6. Surpass for the hosts with a counterattack by Szymura (7-6), and error by Semeniuk (11-9) and the ace by Fornal (13-10). +4 with another ace, this time by Gladyr, 18-14. A block on Semeniuk (20-15) and Fornal and Szymura’s counterattack are worth the 22-15 and, despite a last desperate reaction, Gladyr close the set 25-20.

ZAKSA starts better also in second set with an ace by Smith (0-2) and a winning block by Smith on Fornal (4-8), and coach Giolito is forced to stop the game. Counterattack by Kaczmarek, 4-9, and Hadrava is replaced by Boyer. Sliwka suffered the block of 6-10, but put down the ball of 6-12. All this set remains in the hands of ZAKSA who, with the ace by Semeniuk, reach even the 10-18. It ends, closed at thir set point, 16-25 with a point by Kaczmarek.

Semeniuk make the break of 2-0 in third set, but Boyer level the score, 2-2. Semeniuk is blocked (4-2), but also Szymura misses 2 attacks (4-4) and is replaced by Clevenot, who starts with a point in attack (5-4). ZAKSA surpass with a block on Boyer (6-7), but the rivals react with a counterattack by Fornal
(8-7), an ace by Clevenot (9-7) and a counterattack by the same Fornal (12-9), and he made also the point of 14-11. A block by Clevenot on Sliwka is worth the 16-12, but the same Sliwka shortened the distances, 17-15. Zalinski enters the field in place of Sliwka, and suffered an ace by Clevenot (21-15). It’s not over, as Janus put down the ace of 21-17, and Zalinski blocks Boyer (21-19). Fornal (22-19) and Clevenot (23-20) make, however, two very important points, and an error by Kluth from the service line give the set to Jastrzebski, 25-22.

Kaczmarek, back to the field, put down the ball of 2-4 in fourth set and then Huber blocks a not very effective Boyer, 2-5. After a great previous set, in which he made 7 points, also Clevenot is blocked by Huber (2-6). Boyer sends out the ball of 2-7, and is replaced by Hadrava. Semeniuk, 2-8 and, despite the hosts don’t give up, MVP Smith sets up a monster block on Wisniewski, 7-12. Error by Fornal
(7-13) and counterattack by Sliwka (8-15) close the set in advance, thinking about tie break: 12-25.

Fornal make first break point in decisive fifth set (4-3), but don’t put down the ball of a possible 5-3 and Sliwka level the score: 4-4. Hadrava attacks to the net (4-5) and a foul in blocking is worth the 4-6. Fornal signs the 6-6, Jastrzebski defend Sliwka, but this time Fornal is blocked by Smith: 6-7. An error in attack by Wisniewski give a break to ZAKSA, 7-9, but Gladyr level again by blocking Kaczmarek (10-10). 10-12 with a block on Hadrava. Clevenot keeps the match again with the great point of 11-12, and Hadrava levels the score again with an ace on Sliwka: 12-12. Balance, until the winning block by Huber on
Hadrava (16-18), that close the match.

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In final for third place (and a spot for next edition of CEV Champions League), PGE Skra Belchatow tie the series vs. Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie. After 3 failed match point falliti at tie break on Game 1, they wasted two even today in fourth set, in which they had 21-23, but eventually they can celebrated after a very balanved tie break closed with an attack out from Conte (13-14) and Ebadipour (13-15). MVP Kooy with 21 points, 59% and 44% efficiency in attack and 5 aces.

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🏐| PLUSLIGA 2021/22 | Playoffs Finals

| Game 1 | May 4, 2022
• Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) – Jastrzebski Węgiel (2) 3-0 (25:21, 27:25, 25:23) Serie: 1-0

👉🏼 Game 2 | May 7, 2022
• Jastrzebski Węgiel (2) – Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) 2-3 (25:20, 16:25, 25:22, 12:25, 16:18) Serie: 0-2
Jastrzebski: Toniutti 1, Fornal 23, Wisniewski 7, Hadrava 12, Szymura 6, Gladyr 8, Popiwczak (L); Boyer 6, Clevenot 10, Tervaportti. Not entered: Cedzynski, Granieczny (L), Biniek, Macyra. Coach: Giolito.
ZAKSA: Janusz 5, Sliwka 16, Smith 12, Kaczmarek 19, Semeniuk 19, Huber 12, Shoji (L); Rejno 1, Kluth 2, Zalinski 2. Not entered: Staszewski, Kalembka, Kozlowski, Banach (L). Coach: Cretu.
MVP: Smith.

| Game 3 | May 11, 2022
• Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) – Jastrzebski Węgiel (2) 1-3 (24:26, 25:20, 23:25, 22:25) Serie: 2-1

| Game 4 | May 14, 2022
• Jastrzebski Węgiel (2) – Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) 0-3 (23:25, 17:25, 21:25) Serie: 1-3

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🏐| Final 3/4 Place

| Game 1 | May 4, 2022
• PGE Skra Belchatów (3) – Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (4) 2-3 (23:25, 25:21, 25:19, 23:25, 15:17) Serie: 0-1

👉🏼 Game 2 | May 7, 2022
• Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (4) – PGE Skra Belchatów (3) 2-3 (22:25, 25:16, 23:25, 27:25, 13:15) Serie: 1-1
Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie: Cavanna, Kovacevic 25, Zniszczol 5, Konarski 21, Conte 20, Niemiec 2, Zurek (L); Malinowski, Orczyk, Szalacha. Not entered: Depowski, Tavares, Makos (L), Rajsner. Coach: Kolakovic.
PGE Skra Betchatów: Lomacz 1, Ebadipour 14, Bieniek 13, Atanasijevic 18, Kooy 21, Klos 6, Piechocki (L); Sawicki, Schulz, Taht 2. Not entered: Adamczyk, Milczarek (L), Mitic. Coach: Kolanek.
MVP: Kooy.

| Game 3 | May 10, 2022
• PGE Skra Belchatów (3) – Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (4) 0-3 (22:25, 23:25, 21:25) Serie: 1-2

| Game 4 | May 13, 2022
• Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (4) – PGE Skra Belchatów (3) 3-2 (25:21, 21:25, 25:16, 20:25, 15:11) Serie: 3-1

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