Polish PGE Project Warsaw achieved a dramatic away victory over Itas Trentino in the return leg of the Volleyball Champions League playoffs. The match at BTS Arena in Trento, watched by 2739 spectators, concluded after five sets, and the Poles' victory led to a decisive golden set, which determined the quarter-finalist.
In the main sets, the visitors from Warsaw prevailed after a serious battle.
Itas Trentino – PGE Project Warsaw 2:3 (23:25, 25:19, 25:19, 21:25, 12:15)
Thus, after the first match was won by the Italian team with 3:2, the Poles' victory sent the clash into a golden set up to 15 points.
In it, the Warsaw volleyball players showed stronger nerves and turned the tide after a strong run in the middle of the set.
PGE Project Warsaw – Itas Trentino 1:0 (15:11) – golden set
The match lasted 168 minutes, and the points balance was completely even – 118:117 for Project Warsaw.
The first set was decided in the final rallies when Warsaw snatched the advantage. Trentino, however, responded with very strong second and third sets, in which they controlled the score from the very beginning. The Polish team managed to bring back the intrigue in the fourth set, and in the tie-break showed greater efficiency in attack and reached the success that led to a golden set.
In the decisive additional set, the Poles fell behind early, but after a series of points made a comeback and secured their spot in the quarter-finals.
The top scorer in the match was Théo Faure from Trentino with 34 points. Bartosz Gomułka made the biggest contribution to Project Warsaw's victory, scoring 24 points.
The MVP of the match was the visitors' middle blocker Yurii Semeniuk.
In the quarter-finals, PGE Project Warsaw will face their compatriots from Bogdanka LUK Lublin, which guarantees a Polish representative in the Final Four of the tournament.
Another Polish club is among the top eight – Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie, who will play against Cucine Lube Civitanova.
The Champions League Final Tournament will take place on May 16–17 in Turin.
photo: cev.eu
