BOGDANKA stuns Jastrzebski, Projekt edges Aluron in PlusLiga semis

It got even hotter in the Polish PlusLiga as the first leg of the best-of-three semifinal playoffs unfolded with thrilling results. Spearheaded by Wilfredo Leon, BOGDANKA LUK Lublin stunned defending champions and regular season winners Jastrzebski Wegiel Jastrzebie-Zdroj at their home venue, while PGE Projekt Warsaw emerged victorious from a five-set battle with Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie. ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle edged ahead in the home-and-away fifth place playoff with a win on the road at Asseco Resovia Rzeszow.

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Star outside Wilfredo Leon was instrumental to BOGDANKA LUK Lublin’s sensational 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-22) victory at Jastrzebski Wegiel Jastrzebie-Zdroj on Friday. The Cuban-born striker put away a match-high 25 points, swinging at a 62% success rate, raising four kill blocks and firing three aces, and earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the match award. Opposite Kewin Sasak added another 11 points for Lublin. Bulgarian middle blocker Alex Grozdanov impressed with a 100% success rate in attack, which together with the three kill blocks registered, resulted in a nine-point total.

Middle Norbert Huber led Jastrzebski Wegiel’s blocking with four stuffs towards a total of 12 points. Outside Tomasz Fornal led the team’s serving with three aces toward a 13-point total. His French cross-court teammate Timothee Carle was the home team’s top scorer with 14 points, while opposite Lukasz Kaczmarek also reached the double digits with 10.

The second match of the series will be played at the HSW Globus in Lublin on Wednesday, April 23, and will serve off at 20:30 local time (18:30 UTC).

The other semifinal series’ opener on Saturday offered a five-set duel, with hosts PGE Projekt Warsaw celebrating a 3-2 (25-22, 25-20, 17-25, 19-25, 15-12) victory over Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie. German opposite Linus Weber led the way with 20 points for the winners, including three aces and two kill blocks. Outside hitters Artur Szalpuk and France’s Kevin Tillie added 13 and 11 points, respectively, while the MVP honors went to middle blocker Jakub Kochanowski, who raised three kill blocks and spiked at a 60% success rate to finish with 12 points.

Three players reached the double digits on Aluron’s side as well, led by opposite Karol Butryn with 19 points, including four aces and two blocks. American outside Aaron Russell produced 13 points, while his cross-court teammate Bartosz Kwolek and middle Mateusz Bieniek delivered 11 apiece.

The series will now move to Aluron’s home venue for the playoffs, Arena Sosnowiec, with the second game taking place on Wednesday at 17:30 (15:30).

In the first leg of the home-and-away fifth place playoff, ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle claimed a 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-18) victory at Asseco Resovia Rzeszow, with star captain Bartosz Kurek contributing a team-high 23 points, including two aces and two blocks, and earning the MVP nomination. The return leg is on Thursday at 17:30.

PlusLiga 2024-2025 semifinal playoffs, 2nd leg:
Apr 23, 17:30 local (15:30 UTC): Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie v PGE Projekt Warsaw
Apr 23, 20:30 local (18:30 UTC): BOGDANKA LUK Lublin v Jastrzebski Wegiel Jastrzebie-Zdroj

PlusLiga 2024-2025 fifth place playoff, 2nd leg:
Apr 24, 17:30 local (15:30 UTC): ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle v Asseco Resovia Rzeszow

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