Zaksa’s Path to the SuperFinals Turin 2023
Preview
Grupa Azoty (Zaksa) Kędzierzyn-Koźle made history in 2021 when it became the first Polish club to win the men’s CEV Champions League Trophy. Only a year later, they managed to retain their crown after yet another fierce battle against Trentino Itas. This year, Zaksa has made it to their third consecutive SuperFinals where they will face bitter domestic rivals, Jastrzebski Wegiel on May 20 in Turin.
As fate will have it, Zaksa started its European campaign in Pool D, a pool they had to share with none other than Trentino Itas, the team they had to beat in the previous two SuperFinals. This time, it was Trentino that came on top of both pool phase matches, thus pushing the reigning champions into the playoffs.
Things started clicking again for Tuomas Sammelvuo’s Team, Zaksa’s third coach in as many seasons, in the playoffs where they managed very strong performances against fellow Polish side, Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie. A straight-sets win away from home in the first match and a loss on home court, after securing the two sets necessary, meant that Zaksa was once again going to face Trentino, this time in the quarterfinals.
This quarterfinals matchup was to be another one for the history books. Over 277 minutes of play across the two matches, each team winning its own home match and having a Golden Set decide who will advance into the semifinals, no better script for another chapter of the fiercest rivalry in recent years. Winning the Golden Set by a comfortable margin proved how Zaksa has matured in their approach, how much experience and confidence can two back-to-back titles bring to a team.
The boost given by the quarterfinals win was fully on display in the semifinals against Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia. Two emphatic wins, dropping just a set in each of the matches to secure their third consecutive SuperFinals. We will find out in just a few weeks if they will be able to secure a third consecutive title as well.