The first match in Italy was a real concert of the Polish champions. Jastrzębski Węgiel smashed Cucine Lube Civitanova 3: 0 and now, on his own court, he had to win only two sets (or “golden set”) to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League. In it, ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle was waiting for the winner of this confrontation, who received a free fate after being thrown out of the tournament by the Russian Dynamo Moscow. The Polish champions had a great chance to lead to the Polish semi-finals of the most important club volleyball games in Europe.
A hair from the “golden set”
In the first game, a fierce point-for-point fight continued until 11:11. Later on, the guests were lucky enough to take advantage of the counterattack after four bounces in their ranks. Despite Jastrzębski’s protests, the judges did not notice it and did not allow the challenge. At this point, the visitors started a series of four points in a row that took the lead 15:11. Led by Trevor Clevenot, the players from Jastrzębie-Zdrój managed to catch up with their renowned rival. After two good attacks from the French and a happy service ace, it was 20.
In the end there was an advantage game, and the guests were already lucky in it. At 24:24, Lucarella first beat the Polish block in a long action, and then the Italians’ play miraculously crossed the net and surprised the host Polish champions. The ball passed to the other side, Anzani hit the counter from the volleyball nail and Cucine Lube triumphed in the first set 26:24.
In the second set, the even game lasted until 15:15, then the guests managed to get three points ahead (15:18), and with each ball the attacking Cucine Lube Ivan Zaytsev started. During this game, he suffered a nose injury after the Yant block, so he had to be replaced on the dance floor by the legendary Osmana Juantoren. Cucine Lube managed to keep an advantage of 2-3 points until the end of the set and after Zaytsev’s attack they also won the second game 25:23.
Jastrzębski Węgiel was already against the wall in the fight to avoid the “golden set”. The third set was therefore extremely balanced from start to finish. Until it was settled, the last two-point lead of either team was at 12:10 for the hosts. The attack of the Polish champions was pulled by Tomasz Fornal and Jan Hadrava, but Trevor Clevenot, who was replaced during the game by Rafał Szymura, was not able to cope with it.
There was an advantage game in which the visitors had two match balls, but first Jan Hadrava attacked well, then the hosts managed to stop Osmany Juantoren with a block. After the passing ball was used by Fornal, the Jastrzębie players took the initiative and had more set balls. After the service of the excellent Tomasz Fornal in this match, they won 28:26 and extended the match.
Fornal and Szymura’s concert, the historic success of Jastrzębski Węgiel
The fourth game is already a concert by Jastrzębski Węgiel, which did not waste a chance to end the competition for the semi-final of the Champions League. The Jastrzębie players took the lead 3: 2 and did not give him back until the end of the set. Rafał Szymura had a great entrance, finishing attack after attack. Tomasz Fornal played phenomenally, in the middle of the set he scored three consecutive (!) Service aces and made Jastrzębski Węgiel lead 20:13. Such a big advantage could not be wasted. After Ivan Zaytsev’s spoiled play, the Polish champions won to 19 and, leading to a 2: 2 draw in sets, they could celebrate their great success in the form of promotion to the Champions League semi-finals!
In the tie-break, played for formalities and with numerous reserves on the court, Jastrzębski Węgiel also turned out to be better. The quarterback Eemi Tervaportti (3 aces!) And the phenomenal Rafał Szymura led the Jastrzębians to a 15:12 win and the whole match 3: 2.
Jastrzębski Węgiel has advanced to the semi-finals of the Champions League, where he will face ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle. The Polish semi-final means that Plusliga will have a representative in the grand final for the second year in a row. In it, the Polish team will certainly play against a rival from Italy, because the second semi-final pair is made up of Sir Safety Perugia and Itas Trentino.
Source: Sport
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
