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The Polish men’s volleyball team added another nail-biting chapter to their Olympic qualification journey by defeating Canada 3-2 (21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 20-25, 17-15). This victory in their fourth match solidified their position at the top of the table with a perfect winning record.
Poland entered the match against Canada as favorites, but they were well aware that their North American opponents could pose the toughest challenge in the entire qualification tournament. Canada had previously defeated the Netherlands and Argentina, both direct competitors for an Olympic spot.
In the initial stages of the match, it seemed like Canada might maintain their form, as they surged to a comfortable lead halfway through the first set, eventually winning 25:20.
Despite the early setback, the Polish team led by Nikola Grbić regrouped and dominated the second and third sets, allowing Canada only 20 points in each. The momentum continued into the next set as Poland played increasingly better, while Canada struggled. This resulted in another 25:20 victory for the Biało-Czerwoni.
After the break, Poland unexpectedly lost their rhythm, and the fourth set mirrored the first. Canada capitalized on Poland’s errors and won 25:20, forcing a tie-breaker.
In the decisive tie-breaker, Poland’s composure prevailed once again, and with Kamil Semeniuk’s three consecutive points in the closing moments, they secured their third victory in the qualification tournament. This win propelled Poland to the top of the table and brought them one step closer to securing a spot in Paris.