Bogdanka LUK Lublin will winter at the top after a difficult, but straight-set victory over Projekt Warsaw
BOGDANKA LUK Lublin defeated Projekt Warsaw 3:0 (27:25, 25:22, 25:23) in the Polish PlusLiga derby, played on December 23, and will enter the winter break as the sole leader in the standings.
The match was much more complicated than the final score suggests. The team from the capital arrived in Lublin with only seven players, after an illness struck down most of the squad. Despite the extremely limited rotation, Tommi Tiilikainen's team pushed the champions to their limits, who in turn had rested their star Wilfredo Leon.
Not a single set went smoothly for the hosts. The first set was decided only in extra points, after Bogdanka had to exert its maximum effort to break the opponent's resistance. In the second set, Lublin even overcame a five-point deficit, with Malinowski's serve playing a key role. In the third set, the hosts took a more confident lead, but by the end, the lead dwindled to a single point. After a timeout requested by the displeased Stefan Antiga, his compatriot Tilli from the visiting team made a service error and ended the match.
Malinowski played an outstanding match and was deservedly chosen as MVP.
The captain of the Bulgarian national team, Alex Grozdanov, also made a solid contribution to the success.
Individual Highlights
Malinowski (Bogdanka) – 15 points, +13, 2 aces at key moments, 52% in attack, 36% efficiency
Jakub Wachnik (Bogdanka) – 13 points
Alex Grozdanov (Bogdanka) – 5 points, +5, 1 block, 56% in attack with 57% efficiency; targeted 7 times by setter Marcin Komenda; no errors in 12 serves
Brandon Koppers (Projekt) – 18 points
Damian Wojtaszek (Projekt) – 10 points
Team Statistics
| Category | Bogdanka LUK Lublin | Projekt Warsaw |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks | 5 | 9 |
| Aces | 3 | 1 |
| Attack (%) | 53% | 46% |
| Positive reception | 44% | 50% |
| Total points | 56 | 53 |
Despite the loss, Project Warsaw excelled in blocking (9 to 5) and positive reception, which clearly shows how competitive the visitors were even with seven players. The difference came from Bogdanka's higher attack efficiency and better serving performance in crucial moments, especially in the second set. The minimal difference in total points (56:53) is the best proof of the actual course of the match.
With this successBogdanka LUK Lublin earns 30 pointsand will spend the winter in first place in the Polish championship standings.
