Skra Bełchatów Edges PGE Projekt Warszawa 3:2 in Tauron Liga Thriller

In brief

• Skra Bełchatów beat PGE Projekt Warszawa 3:2 in a second-round Tauron Liga match.
• The hosts won the first set 25:17 and the tie-break 15:12 after a close second set.
• The defeat was Projekt's first of the season, while Skra earned its second win.

Skra takes an early grip before Projekt fights back

The hosts opened the match in dominant form. Serving and blocking carried Skra to a 6:1 start, and Michał Szalacha, who was in excellent touch, helped the team take the first set 25:17. (Skra Bełchatów beat Projekt Warsaw in five sets | UA.NEWS – ua.news) (TAURON Liga. Skra Bełchatów - Projekt Warszawa (relacja, wynik) - siatka.org – siatka.org) The Warsaw side reduced the gap at 11:8 but could not close it.

In the second set Projekt climbed out of its early hole and, with a block from Bartłomiej Lemański, moved to a 9:7 lead. Kévin Tillie served well for the visitors, and their block gave them a clear edge at 12:9. Skra levelled the score and the set swung back and forth before Warsaw's serve pulled them ahead again at 19:16.

Tie-break decides the match

Warsaw won the set that followed and forced the match to a fifth set, where the balance tipped to the hosts. Skra took the tie-break 15:12 and secured the 3:2 win. (Niespodziewana porażka siatkarzy Projektu! Skra wyszarpała zwycięstwo w starciu z faworytem - PolsatSport.pl – polsatsport.pl) The result was the first loss of the season for Projekt, which had opened the campaign with a 3:1 win. (Skra Bełchatów - PGE Projekt Warszawa: relacja na żywo. Tauron Liga LIVE – Przegląd Sportowy)

Skra had also started the season with a 3:1 victory, over Trefl Gdańsk, so the match was a key test for both sides in the early stage of the Tauron Liga campaign. Michał Szalacha and Alan Souza were the main names for the hosts, while Tillie led the visitors' attack.