DevelopRes Rzeszow defeats LKS Lodz 3-2 in five-set Tauron Liga season opener

DevelopRes takes commanding two-set lead

In the opening round of the 2026/2027 Tauron Liga Kobiet season, Polish vice-champions KS DevelopRes Rzeszow travelled to face LKS Commercecon Lodz. Both squads entered the fixture following substantial squad rebuilding between seasons, aiming to establish early momentum in the title race. DevelopRes setter Alicja Grabka operated through the middle, where Weronika Centka-Tietianiec converted several key points while Uliana Kotar worked to settle into rhythm. The visiting block repeatedly disrupted Lodz attacks set by Karla Antunovic, allowing Rzeszow to build an early 9-5 lead and extend it to 18-14. Despite a late push by LKS, the Rzeszow block held firm, and Marrit Jasper scored the final point to secure the opening set 25-22.

DevelopRes maintained control in the second set through steady reception and front-row defense. Grabka widened the lead to 9-5 after a Jasper counter-attack, and an ace from Piasecka made it 13-8 following an earlier Centka-Tietianiec attack. Taylor Mims struggled with offensive efficiency but compensated with net defense, scoring from the back row for 20-13. DevelopRes out-blocked Lodz 5-0 during the set, and Centka-Tietianiec scored twice in a row for 24-16 before Jasper closed the set at 25-17.

Lodz mounts a middle-set comeback

LKS Commercecon shifted momentum in the third set through improved reception, attacking, and blocking. Lodz coach Adrian Chylinski directed the hosts from the sideline as they built leads of 9-6, 11-7, and 12-8. Dambrink scored off the Rzeszow block for 13-8, Sonia Stefanik scored from the middle for 14-10, and Dambrink added the 15th point. DevelopRes coach Jelena Blagojevic substituted Mika Grbavica for Mims, but attacks from Kokkonen for 16-11 and Milenko for 18-12 stretched the host lead to 20-12. LKS closed out the set 25-19 after an hour and a half of play.

The fourth set saw Lodz establish early control with a 4-1 lead, widening the gap to 7-3 on a service ace. DevelopRes brought on Magdalena Jurczyk, but Rzeszow could not overcome the Lodz defense. LKS built an 18-9 lead while Blagojevic called timeouts to instruct her team. Jurczyk ended the set, leveling the match at two sets apiece and forcing a tie-break.

Tie-break battle and upcoming fixtures

DevelopRes opened the tie-break with a 4-0 advantage and led 5-2. LKS Commercecon responded at the net, equalizing at 6-6 and taking an 8-6 lead after two consecutive blocks. The lead alternated through the final points before DevelopRes prevailed 17-15 on advantage to seal the 3-2 victory.

Centka-Tietianiec earned Most Valuable Player honors for her performance across the five sets. Following the contest, Blagojevic reflected on the resilience shown by her squad.

I thought that this match would be just like this. In the first two sets we had good moments, in the next two ŁKS did. I am glad that we endured and opened the season with a victory on a difficult court. This is a new team and winning on advantage, in a tie-break builds team spirit. The girls gave everything.

In the second round, LKS Commercecon will face Budowlani Lodz, while DevelopRes Rzeszow will host Sokol & Hagric Mogilno.