PGE Projekt Warsaw took a significant step towards the Final Four in the Champions League after defeating Bogdanka LUK Lublin 3:1 (25:14, 23:25, 26:24, 25:20) in the first quarterfinal, played in the 'Torwar' hall in the Polish capital.
Warsaw established control from the very beginning, quickly taking the initiative with strong serving and stable net play. The hosts dictated the rhythm and did not allow the Polish champions to find consistency. Lublin responded in the second set, where they improved their counter-attack play and briefly leveled the score on the court. However, problems with game organization and fluctuations in key moments persisted. The third set was the most dramatic. At 23:23, Alex Grozdanov distinguished himself with a crucial block for Lublin, keeping the intrigue alive, but in the subsequent rallies, Warsaw showed greater efficiency and closed out the set. In the fourth set, the hosts once again took the initiative, targeting their serves at Lublin's problematic reception areas. This led to a series of counter-attacks and a decisive lead, which Warsaw did not relinquish until the end.
National team captain Alex Grozdanov (Lublin) finished with 5 points, +3 efficiency, 3 blocks, and 40% attack efficiency, intervening decisively in key situations, especially in the third set.
The top scorer for Warsaw was Bartosz Bednorz with 21 points, receiving significant support from Kevin Tillie (16) - MVP and Bartosz Gomułka (15). For Lublin, Hilyr Eno scored 19 points, Mateusz Malinowski finished with 15, and Wilfredo Leon was limited to just 12 points
indicative of the visitors' problems in attack.
Team Statistics
| Metric | PGE Projekt Warsaw | Bogdanka LUK Lublin |
|---|---|---|
| Attack Points | 56 | 43 |
| Attack Efficiency | 51% | 44% |
| Blocks | 9 | 11 |
| Positive Reception | 56% | 21% |
| Perfect Reception | 28% | 6% |
| Aces | 7 | 7 |
| Service Errors | 17 | 23 |
| Points from Opponent Errors | 27 | 22 |
Warsaw has a clear advantage in attack and especially in reception, which explains their better control over the match. Lublin has more blocks, but weak first contact and more service errors limit the effect of this advantage.
The second match is on April 1st in Lublin, where Grozdanov and company will need to seek a 3:0 or 3:1 victory to force the match into a 'golden set'.
photo:cev.eu
