On the evening of May 23, 2023, the prestigious Polish Volleyball League Gala took place at the Arche Hotel in Warsaw. The event celebrated the culmination of the 2022/2023 season, honoring the top volleyball players and coaches. The coveted title of Player of the Season was awarded to Tomasz Fornal, who captivated the audience with his brilliant acceptance speech.
The 2022/2023 season was extraordinary for volleyball enthusiasts in Poland. In the finals of the Champions League, two teams that regularly compete against each other in the Polish PlusLiga, Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle and Jastrzębski Węgiel, faced off. Jastrzębski emerged victorious domestically, while ZAKSA triumphed on the European stage. Meanwhile, the women’s Tauron Liga championship was claimed by ŁKS Commercecon Łódź, with Exact Systems Norwid Częstochowa securing the top spot in the second tier, earning promotion to the women’s volleyball extraleague.
Tomasz Fornal, voted the season’s best player, shared his gratitude on stage, displaying his wit. “I would prefer to play against ZAKSA again,” joked the Jastrzębski Węgiel outside hitter. “Thank you for selecting me as the Player of the Season. I would like to express my appreciation to the entire Jastrzębski Węgiel organization for placing their trust in me over four years ago. I hope to play there for another year, and what the future holds, we shall see,” he added. Fornal proceeded to thank all those who contributed to his success, singling out his teammate Stephen Boyer for lending him a suit.
The gala also acknowledged other notable figures, including Monika Fedusio, named the season’s top female player in the Tauron Liga, and Marcelo Mendez, recognized as the Coach of the Season for guiding Jastrzębski Węgiel to the PlusLiga title, Super Cup victory, and strong showings in the Champions League and Polish Cup. The awards ceremony showcased the outstanding achievements and talent within Polish volleyball.