Põlva Serviti Secures Convincing Win Over Granitas-Karys

January 18, 2025

LSMU Arena, January 18, 2025 – Põlva Serviti maintained their dominance in the Baltic Handball League with a decisive 30-22 victory over Granitas-Karys. The match showcased Serviti’s clinical finishing and disciplined defense, securing their second consecutive win over the Lithuanian side with the same scoreline as their previous encounter.

The first half set the tone for Serviti’s control, with the Estonian team heading into the break with a 13-9 lead. Despite Granitas-Karys managing to equalize at 2-2 early in the match through Matas Jurkevičius, Serviti’s attacking quartet, led by Mathias Rebane and Hendrik Varul, proved too much for the home side. Rebane and Varul each contributed six goals, exploiting gaps in Granitas-Karys’ defense.

Granitas-Karys struggled to capitalize on their opportunities, with key player Modestas Štarolis, who led his team with five goals, missing multiple shots in critical moments. Despite his efforts, along with notable contributions from Titas Janušonis and Nedas Buronko, who each added three goals, the Lithuanian side failed to close the gap in the second half.

Põlva Serviti’s defensive organization, anchored by goalkeeper Eston Varusk, was instrumental in neutralizing Granitas-Karys’ attack. Varusk made several crucial saves, especially in the first half, when Granitas-Karys looked poised to mount a comeback.

The turning point came in the 11th minute when Edgaras Banelis of Granitas-Karys received a two-minute suspension. Serviti capitalized on the numerical advantage, scoring back-to-back goals to extend their lead to 6-2. This momentum carried through the match, with Serviti maintaining a comfortable cushion despite Granitas-Karys’ attempts to rally in the second half.

In the final stages, Serviti’s balanced scoring effort, with goals from eight different players, ensured their victory. Alongside Rebane and Varul, Alfred Timmo and Stanislav Kholodiuk each added four goals, showcasing the team’s depth.

Granitas-Karys showed flashes of resilience, including a spirited goal by Štarolis in the 40th minute that momentarily closed the gap to five. However, missed opportunities, including a series of failed shots by key players, left them unable to sustain the pressure.

Top Performers:

• Põlva Serviti: Mathias Rebane and Hendrik Varul (6 goals each), Stanislav Kholodiuk and Alfred Timmo (4 goals each)
• Granitas-Karys: Modestas Štarolis (5 goals), Titas Janušonis and Nedas Buronko (3 goals each)