Hit in Warsaw overshadowed by Bartosz Kurek’s injury. ZAKSA lost without captain
In three sets, the PGE Projekt Warszawa volleyball players decided the hit in which they faced ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle. Bartosz Kurek was injured in the 1st set.
It must be admitted that this is not how the guests from Kędzierzyn-Koźle imagined the inauguration of the 2024/25 season in the PlusLiga. It was difficult to prepare for a scenario in which Bartosz Kurek would not be on the pitch. And this is, in fact, what happened.
PlugLiga: PGE Projekt Warszawa beat ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle
The visiting team captain suffered an unfortunate injury in the opening set. Kurek, who returned to PlusLiga, when the score was 10:9 for PGE Projekt Warszawa, got hit in the eye with the ball. “Kuraś” received this blow after a ricochet, which increased the seriousness of the situation. The experienced volleyball player asked for a change, after which he quickly found himself in the locker room with a physiotherapist. And after the first set he left Warsaw’s Torwar, going for a consultation, most likely to one of the local hospitals.
Out of necessity, Mateusz Rećko got his chance for almost the entire match. ZAKSA’s second attacker is making his PlusLiga debut and it must be admitted that the best volleyball player of the previous season on the first league courts was not nervous.
ZAKSA bravely tried to resist in the new arrangement of forces on the pitch, but on this day the hosts were the favourites – and they confirmed their sports class.
PGE Projekt could count on several leaders. The one in points was certainly Bartłomiej Bołądź (the best on the pitch), maintaining a high level of play, for which one could remember the attacker from the previous season, in club and national team. Setter Jan Firlej also skillfully used his middle blockers, among others. Let us note the debut in this position of Jakub Kochanowski, who provided an important stimulus at the end of the second set.
The Warsaw team won in three sets and, adding to that the fact that the Torwar stands were full, sent a clear signal to the competition. The bronze medalists of the previous PlusLiga season will certainly be one of the most interesting teams in the field. As for ZAKSA, wishing Kurek a speedy recovery, it is clear that this team is in the construction phase. However, one can be convinced that coach Andrea Giani will make something good out of this flour.
Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie with an unexpected defeat!
In the first match of the 2024/25 season in the PlusLiga on Friday, after more than three hours of play, Bogdanka LUK Lublin recorded a 3:2 victory. The club, in which Wilfredo Leon found himself – although he did not play in the first round – defeated the vice-champions of Poland, Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie. The visiting captain Marcin Komenda was chosen MVP of the match.
