First semi-final match: Szekszard AC – KTS Siarka ZOT Tarnobrzeg 1:3
Polish champion KTS Siarka ZOT Tarnobrzeg actual runner-up of ECLW beat away Hungarian Szekszard AC 3:1 in the first semi-final leg. Returning game will be held on April 7th in the city of Tarnobrzeg.
It was a good team work of Polish super-defensive team as each their player took one point. World No. 6 HAN Ying defeated the best host player Polina MIKHAILOVA in four games of the opener. HAN ended second set with three consecutive points (8:6 11:6) and added three more in a row at the beginning of the third game (3:0). These six points in total brought her a lot of confidence and she easily won third and fourth set.
Dora MADARAS prevailed against Viktoria PAVLOVICH after full five games. Host reversed the score in the opener from 6:8 to 11:8 but double European champion PAVLOVICH responded by five points in a row in the second game (3:7 8:7) after several wonderful long points. The score was leveled after four sets but MADARASZ controlled decisive period since very first moment.
Recently crowned champion of Poland LI Qian (last weekend took her fifth title in that country) overcame LIN Ye in five games in spite of facing 0-2 deficit. Guest did a winning run in late fifth set when she took four consecutive points after 2:2 (7:7).
One more clash was extended to full distance as Viktoria PAVLOVICH beat Polina MIKHAILOVA. Guest saved one match ball in the fifth set which was concluded by her three points in a row.
2016/17 ECLW semi-final 1st leg
SZEKSZARD AC – KTS SIARKA ZOT TARNOBRZEG 1:3
Polina MIKHAILOVA – HAN Ying 1:3 (11:5 6:11 7:11 4:11)
Dora MADARASZ – Viktoria PAVLOVICH 3:2 (11:8 9:11 11:4 9:11 11:6)
LIN Ye – LI Qian 2:3 (11:7 11:5 8:11 7:11 7:11)
Polina MIKHAILOVA – Viktoria PAVLOVICH 2:3 (8:11 11:5 4:11 11:5 10:12)
