Polish men’s volleyball team defeated the Italians 3:0 and took third place in the Volleyball Nations League. The meeting was led by Polish players from the very beginning.
A painful 0:3 defeat to the Americans killed the Polish team’s hopes for Nations League gold. However, all was not lost after the semi-final. There was still a third place to be won, for which the volleyball team led by Nikola Grbić faced European champions Italy.
VOLLEYBALL NATIONS LEAGUE: A PAINFUL KNOCKOUT. THE POLES TO FIGHT FOR BRONZE
The beginning of the match was quite difficult. After a great first game, the Italians strongly entered the second set. Gradually, however, the Poles got back into the set and drew. Moments later, after a very long video review, it was the Poles who were leading.
Unlike the first game, the game, in the end, had to be decided. The match was tied for a long time until Mateusz Bieniek (24:22) gave the Poles the lead with a hit from behind the nine-metre line.
The Italians were not able to impose their tempo. Although they kept up the pace of the white and red team, they could not find an anchor point with which they could escape for a couple of points.
Everything was heading towards a happy ending and it ended so. Poland won the third set 25:20, the whole match 3:0 and claimed the bronze of the Nations League.
Poland – Italy 3:0 (25-16; 25-23; 25-20)