Barkom Stuns Jastrzebski in One of Five Thrilling Five-Set Matches in Poland Over the Weekend

The 16th round of Poland’s PlusLiga regular season delivered an action-packed weekend with five of the eight matches going the full distance, ending in thrilling tie-break sets. The biggest surprise came when Barkom Kazhany Lviv, the only international team in the league and second from the bottom, stunned defending champions and table leaders Jastrzebski Wegiel Jastrzebie-Zdroj with a hard-fought 3-2 victory.

Barkom’s Stunning Upset Over Jastrzebski

Playing in front of nearly 2,500 fans in Jastrzebie-Zdroj on Saturday, Barkom pulled off a dramatic 3-2 win (25-20, 27-25, 21-25, 13-25, 15-13), leaving the home crowd in disbelief. Ukrainian stars Vasyl Tupchii and Vladyslav Shchurov led the way for Barkom with 15 points each, with Shchurov impressing with seven blocks. Tupchii earned the MVP award for his decisive performance. Meanwhile, Luciano Vicentin of Jastrzebski delivered a match-high 25 points.

Despite the result, both teams maintained their positions in the standings. Jastrzebski Wegiel remains at the top with 41 points and a 13-3 win-loss record, while Barkom holds the 15th spot with 11 points and a 4-12 record.

Top-Tier Battle: Aluron Zawiercie vs. BOGDANKA LUK Lublin

In another high-profile clash on Saturday, Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie secured a crucial 3-2 victory (25-18, 18-25, 25-19, 21-25, 15-12) on the road against BOGDANKA LUK Lublin. The win widened the gap between the two teams in the standings. Aluron now sits in third place with 36 points (12-4), while BOGDANKA holds fourth with 32 points (11-5).

American outside hitter Aaron Russell shined for Aluron with a match-high 23 points and earned the MVP recognition. Karol Butryn contributed with five aces, while Wilfredo Leon of Lublin added 22 points.

Projekt Warsaw Dominates ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle

On Thursday, PGE Projekt Warsaw delivered a commanding 3-0 win (25-20, 25-19, 25-21) over ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle on the road. Bartlomiej Boladz led all scorers with 14 points. This victory allowed Projekt to narrow the gap to first place while extending their lead over Aluron in third. Projekt is now second with 38 points (14-2), whereas ZAKSA remains in fifth with 31 points (10-6).

Slepsk Edges Norwid in Five-Set Thriller

On Sunday, Slepsk Malow Suwalki triumphed in a nail-biting 3-2 match (26-24, 24-26, 20-25, 25-21, 18-16) over Steam Hemarpol Norwid Czestochowa. Despite the loss, Norwid retains sixth place with 29 points (10-6), while Slepsk stays ninth with 23 points (9-7). Bartosz Filipiak starred for Slepsk with 29 points, including three aces, while Norwid’s Patrik Indra tallied an impressive 31 points, with five aces.

Other Key Matches Over the Weekend

• Asseco Resovia Rzeszow defeated PSG Stal Nysa 3-1 (25-23, 25-23, 28-30, 25-19), powered by Jakub Bucki’s 27 points. Resovia holds seventh place with 28 points (8-8), while Stal remains just above the relegation zone in 13th with 12 points (3-13).
• SKRA Belchatow clinched a narrow 3-2 victory (25-17, 15-25, 19-25, 30-28, 17-15) over Indykpol AZS Olsztyn. Miran Kujundzic led SKRA with 24 points, while Jan Hadrava contributed 28 points for Olsztyn. SKRA stays eighth with 25 points (9-7), and Olsztyn remains 10th with 21 points (6-10).

Trefl Gdansk Tops Cuprum in Straight Sets

In Monday’s closing match, Trefl Gdansk dominated Cuprum Stilon Gorzow Wielkopolski 3-0 (25-23, 33-31, 27-25). Piotr Orczyk led Trefl with a match-high 18 points. This result caused a shift in the standings, as Trefl climbed to 11th with 20 points (6-10), while Cuprum dropped to 12th with 19 points (8-8).

GKS Katowice Triumphs in Relegation Battle

In a heated relegation-zone duel on Friday, GKS Katowice staged a remarkable comeback from two sets down to defeat Nowak-Mosty MKS Bedzin 3-2 (18-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-19, 15-12). Tunisian star Aymen Bouguerra led GKS with 22 points. Despite the win, GKS remains bottom of the table in 16th place with 6 points (2-14), while Bedzin holds 14th with 12 points (3-13).

Conclusion

The PlusLiga’s 16th round showcased exhilarating volleyball action, with intense battles, surprising upsets, and standout performances. The headline result, Barkom’s shocking victory over Jastrzebski, proves the unpredictable nature of the league this season. As the competition heats up, every match becomes crucial for teams vying for dominance or survival in one of Europe’s most competitive volleyball leagues.