The team heavily relied on their outside hitters to triumph, with American Olympic medalist Aaron Russell leading the team with 16 points (12 kills, three aces, one block) and the match’s MVP Bartosz Kwolek adding another 12, with ten kills and two aces. The match’s top scorer was Asseco’s French Olympic champion opposite Stephen Boyer, who registered 17 points, with 13 kills, two blocks and two aces.
“I thought we were a little bit slow at the start of the match, but we were always very focused,” Russell said. “Asseco were fighting for their lives and they tried to press us in the first set, but our blocking and defense were excellent and helped us win in three sets. I think we have been playing very well, but we have some really important matches ahead of us, and we focus on each of them at a time.”
Later on Saturday, Projekt Warsaw secured their spot in the semifinals in more dramatic fashion as they prevailed over PGE GiEK SKRA Bełchatów in a very tight match, winning 3-2 (25-19, 19-25, 25-18, 20-25, 23-21) on the road after over two and a half hours of play – it will be their second-straight appearance in the Final Four.
