Bogdanka LUK Lublin started the semifinal series in the Polish PlusLiga perfectly, securing an extremely difficult away victory against PGE Projekt Warszawa with a score of 3:1 (25:27, 25:14, 26:24, 25:22). Thus, the team from Lublin took a 1-0 lead in the series, and the second match is scheduled for April 18 in Lublin.
The match started with an extremely even game, in which both teams demonstrated a high level in attack. The first game point went to the guests after a block by Alex Grozdanov at 23:24, and Wilfredo Leon provided another chance – 24:25. In the decisive moments, however, the hosts showed greater stability – an out-of-bounds serve and reception problems for Lublin allowed Warsaw to turn the tide. A block against Leon ended the game – 27:25 and 1:0.
The second game started evenly until 9:10, but after that, the hosts fell into a serious crisis. A series of errors and excellent blocking by the guests, including Grozdanov's fourth block point, led to a sharp break – 9:17. By the end, Warsaw scored only five more points and lost heavily with 14:25.
After the shock, the hosts reacted and took the lead at the start of the third game, maintaining a 2-3 point advantage. At 16:16, however, the initiative shifted to the guests, who made a series of blocks and took a 16:20 lead. The drama peaked at 18:24 when Warsaw scored 6 consecutive points and tied the score – 24:24. Ultimately, the game was once again decided in tense rallies. The most disputed point was the one that led to match point for Bogdanka – an out-of-bounds serve grazed Tilli's hands, and after a thorough review, the point went to Lublin – 24:26 and 1:2.
The fourth set started better for the hosts – 6:2 after a block against Leon. Gradually, Lublin leveled the game, and after 20:20, they showed stronger nerves. A Young attack and a Warsaw error from the back row made it 21:23, and in the final rallies, Leon ended the contest – 22:25.
| Player | Team | Points | Block | Attack Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Grozdanov | Bogdanka LUK Lublin | 9 | 4 | 57% |
The Bulgarian middle blocker played a crucial role in the most important moments, especially with his contribution in blocking. His four successful blocks were decisive in turning the momentum in the third game, and his high attack efficiency demonstrates stability and proper decision-making.
Key match highlights
Wilfredo Leon was the top scorer with 25 points, but faced strong resistance in blocking.
Mateusz Malinowski, who finished with 17 points, was chosen as MVP after making key plays at the end of the third game.
Warsaw showed character but faltered in the decisive moments.
Lublin's blocking proved to be the decisive factor.
Team statistics:
| Indicator | Warsaw | Lublin |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 5 | 12 |
| Positive reception | 44% | 24% |
| Successful attacks | 50 | 50 |
| Blocks | 13 | 11 |
| Opponent's errors | 19 | 28 |
Warsaw excels in reception and blocking, which indicates more stable play in defense and organization. Lublin, however, compensates with a much stronger serve (12 aces) and capitalized significantly better on the opponent's errors. The equality in attack (50:50) highlights that serving and errors tipped the scales in favor of the guests.
With this victory, Bogdanka took an important first step towards the finals, but the series remains completely open. The second match in Lublin will be crucial – a potential new success will bring the team just one win away from the final, while Warsaw faces a mandatory reaction.
The semifinal lived up to expectations – a battle until the last point, where nerves and details tipped the scales.
photos: plusliga.pl
