Poland: Projekt Warszawa stun titleholders in Round 19 thriller! 2 points also for Barkom

Two tie breaks closed Round 19 of 2024/25 Plusliga or, if you prefer, Round 4 of second leg.
In one of the most exciting matches of the season, PGE Projekt Warszawa staged an incredible comeback to defeat reigning champions Jastrzębski Węgiel 3-2. Down 0-2 in sets, the team from country’s capital rallied in spectacular fashion to win in decisive fifth set (21:25, 20:25, 25:20, 25:19, 15:10).
The stakes were high as both teams are top contenders this season. Jastrzębski Węgiel, leading the table with 47 points, faced a determined rivals, who entered the match in third place with 44 points. And win here meant also a chance to tighten the top spot race!
Bartłomiej Bołądź was the star of the game earning MVP honors with 14 points to his name, including three aces, well supported by Jakub Kochanowski who added 10, Kevin Tillie, Linus Weber and Arthur Szalpuk, with 8 points each.
On the other side of the net, Tomasz Fornal with 13 points, Arthur Brehme (12), Norbert Huber and Lukasz Kaczmarek (11 points) were the most prolific players.
In the evening, Barkom Każany Lwów stun Asseco Resovia Rzeszów winning on the field of the rivals with the score of 2-3 (23:25, 17:25, 25:20, 25:21, 14:16).
The underdogs, ranked second-to-last before the match, secured a stunning victory against the eighth-placed hosts, claiming two invaluable points despite losing their starting setter Deniss Petrovs due an ankle injury during warmups, replaced by Santeri Valimaa.
Despite early struggles, Resovia forced a tie-break after losing the first two sets (23-25, 17-25). However, Barkom clinched the decider 16-14, with also thanks to MVP Ilia Kovalov, who scored 18 points alongside Lorenzo Pope, while Vasyl Tupchii led Barkom with 22 points. Resovia’s Klemen Čebulj was the most prolific player with 24 points, supported by Stephen Boyer’s 13, but they weren’t enough.
Resovia fielded Adrian Staszewski for the injured Lukas Vasina, but struggles in attack (4/18, 22% successful attempts).
This victory moves Barkom to 14th place with 13 points and five wins this season, including previous away upsets against top teams of Częstochowa and Jastrzębski Węgiel.

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🏐| PLUSLIGA 2024/25 |Kolejka 19 – Round 19 (Round 4 of Second Leg)

Friday January 3, 2025
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Steam Hemarpol Norwid Częstochowa – PSG Stal Nysa 3-0 (25:21, 25:17, 25:19)

Saturday January 4, 2025
• 12.30 (Local Time) | GKS Katowice – Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie 1-3 (25:21, 20:25, 21:25, 14:25)
• 14.45 (Local Time) | PGE GiEK Skra Bełchatów – BOGDANKA LUK Lublin 2-3 (25:23, 25:18, 20:25, 12:25, 13:15)
• 17.30 (Local Time) | Indykpol AZS Olsztyn – Nowak-Mosty MKS Będzin 3-0 (31:29, 25:17, 25:23)

Sunday January 5, 2025
• 14.45 (Local Time) | Trefl Gdańsk – Ślepsk Malow Suwałki 0-3 (21:25, 21:25, 23:25)
• 17.30 (Local Time) | Cuprum Stilon Gorzów – ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle 1-3 (19:25, 20:25, 25:21, 25:27)

👉🏼Monday January 6, 2025
• 17.30 (Local Time) | PGE Projekt Warszawa – Jastrzębski Węgiel 3-2 (21:25, 20:25, 25:20, 25:19, 15:10)
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Asseco Resovia Rzeszów – Barkom Każany Lwów 2-3 (23:25, 17:25, 25:20, 25:21, 14:16)

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🏐|STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Jastrzębski Węgiel 48
2. PGE Projekt Warszawa 46
3. Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie 45
4. BOGDANKA LUK Lublin 40
5. ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle 37
6. Steam Hemarpol Norwid Częstochowa 35
7. PGE GiEK Skra Bełchatów 29
8. Asseco Resovia Rzeszów 29
9. Indykpol AZS Olsztyn 27
10. Ślepsk Malow Suwałki 26
11. Trefl Gdańsk 23
12. Cuprum Stilon Gorzów 22
13. PSG Stal Nysa 15
14. Barkom Każany Lwów 13
15. Nowak-Mosty MKS Będzin 12
16. GKS Katowice 6

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🏐| NEXT GAMES | Kolejka 20 – Round 20 (Round 5 of Second Leg)

Thursday January 9, 2025
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Barkom Każany Lwów – GKS Katowice

Friday January 10, 2025
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Nowak-Mosty MKS Będzin – Cuprum Stilon Gorzów

Saturday January 11, 2025
• 14.45 (Local Time) | Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie – PGE Projekt Warszawa
• 17.30 (Local Time) | Asseco Resovia Rzeszów – BOGDANKA LUK Lublin

Sunday January 12, 2025
• 14.45 (Local Time) | Jastrzębski Węgiel – Steam Hemarpol Norwid Częstochowa
• 17.30 (Local Time) | PSG Stal Nysa – Indykpol AZS Olsztyn
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Ślepsk Malow Suwałki – PGE GiEK Skra Bełchatów

Monday January 13, 2025
• 17.30 (Local Time) | ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle – Trefl Gdańsk

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