Polish volleyball team triumphed over the Netherlands with a 3-1 victory, securing their spot at next year’s Olympic Games in Paris. Closing the tournament in Xi’an, the White-and-Reds will face the hosts in their final match.
Polish coach Nikola Grbić emphasizes victories at every step, be it friendly matches or world championship finals. The Serbian coach has successfully instilled this ideology in the White-and-Reds, who have clinched victories this season in the Nations League and the European Championships. In the Olympic qualification tournament, they proved their dominance once again.
Poland Outplays Netherlands
In Xi’an, China, the Polish team marched from one victory to another, and on Saturday, they secured their tickets to Paris. Although the first set of the match against the Netherlands went to the opponents, our volleyball players improved their serves and reduced errors in the following sets, allowing the Orange team to score only 17 points.
The third set remained neck and neck until 19-19. Then, the Polish team shifted into a higher gear, leaving the rivals struggling to keep up. Kamil Semeniuk ensured smooth receptions, while Wilfredo Leon from the left wing added more points to his impressive tally (15 points after three sets).
In the next set, Poland sealed their ticket to the Olympics in Paris. The European champions quickly gained a points advantage and maintained control. Outstanding plays from the setter Łukasz Kaczmarek, who attacked straight, led to a score of 19-16. The Dutch team made a final attempt, even having set points, but ultimately couldn’t reverse the match’s fate.
On Sunday, the White-and-Reds have a chance to secure their 24th consecutive victory in official matches. In the tournament’s finale in Xi’an, the Polish volleyball players will face the hosts, China. The match is set to begin at 13:30.
Poland – Netherlands 3:1 (21:25, 25:17, 25:22, 29:27)