The Polish champion Bogdanka LUK Lublin was on the verge of defeat during their away game against Knack Roeselare, but after 133 minutes of dramatic battle, they managed to impose their will and win 3:2 (15:25, 25:20, 23:25, 25:20, 15:12). Thus, the team from Lublin recorded their second victory in Group B of the Champions League and took sole lead in the temporary standings.
Nightmarish start for the Poles
The match started in the worst possible way for the guests. The aggressive serve of the Belgians broke Bogdanka's reception already in the first set, in which Roeselare pulled ahead 8:1, and later 16:7 and 21:13. The hosts scored 3 aces and 4 blocks, while the Poles committed 7 points from their own errors and managed to record only one ace – 25:15.
Response and Equalization
In the second set, the picture changed. Bogdanka stabilized their reception and built an early lead, which they managed to maintain until the end. Although after 15:21 Roeselare clawed back five points, the difference proved sufficient and Leon and company equalized – 25:20, thanks to better blocking and fewer unforced errors.
Serve decides the third set
The third set will be remembered for the most aces in the match – a total of 8. Again, the aggressive serve tipped the scales in favor of the Belgians, who turned the tide at the very end and took the lead with 25:23. This was also the longest played part due to a lengthy video check, which took nearly five minutes.
Bogdanka sends the match to a tie-break
Pressured by the negative result, the guests took the initiative in the fourth set. Roeselare's serve faltered, as they recorded no aces, while the Poles scored 3 and committed fewer errors. This proved decisive for 25:20 and a tie-break.
Comeback in the decisive set
The fifth set did not start well for Bogdanka. The Poles failed to maintain their fragile lead and allowed the hosts to pull ahead 8:4 and 10:7. Then, the guests' defense and several key plays by the until-then inconsistent Wilfredo Leon turned the tide. Bogdanka reached 11:12 and allowed Roeselare to score only one more point until the end – 15:12.
Team Statistics
| Category | Roeselare | Bogdanka LUK Lublin |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 11 | 9 |
| Blocks | 6 | 8 |
| Attack Efficiency | 52% | 55% |
| Positive Reception | 49% | 55% |
| Total Points | 71 | 69 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 30 | 32 |
The numbers clearly show how evenly matched the game was. Roeselare had an advantage in aces, but higher attacking efficiency and fewer errors in key moments tipped the scales in Bogdanka's favor, especially in the tie-break.
Individual performances
Basil Dermaux for Roeselare was the top performer in the match with 31 points, a +20 efficiency rating, 1 ace, 2 blocks, 60% positive and 40% perfect reception, as well as 62% attacking efficiency, but even this brought the Belgians only one point for the standings.
For the winners, Wilfredo Leon scored 17 points (efficiency rating -5), with 3 aces and 1 block, but also made 8 reception errors.
Mateusz Malinowski added 16 points, an efficiency rating of +12, 1 ace, and 63% attacking efficiency, which also earned him the MVP award.
National team captain Alex Grozdanov also played a very strong match – 12 points, 3 aces, 2 blocks, and 64% attacking success rate.
With this second victory, Bogdanka LUK Lublin took the lead in Group B, and on January 27th in Lublin, a new clash between the two teams is coming up, when the Poles will host Knack Roeselare again.
