EuroVolleyW 2023: Poland want to show off their superpowers again
Team analysis
Poland have been this season’s revelation. For more than a decade, Poland women's team have been in the shadow of the men's squad who had reigned on the Volleyball stage. But back in 2022 the great revolution has started under the guidance of Italian coach - Stefano Lavarini, who breathed new life into the White-and-Reds. After reaching the quarterfinals at the world championship last year for the first time since 1962, they won a bronze medal at the VNL 2023 - their first medal at major event since 2009. And they are eager for more!
Poland is the most regular EuroVolley participant, they took part in 31 of the 32 previous editions of Europe's elite event, winning two gold (2003 and 2005), four silver and five bronze medals and they are highly motivated to add another one to their cabinet. At the beginning of 2022, Stefano Lavarini took over the Poland women's team and already in the first season he led the team to historic achievements. At the 2022 World Championships hosted by Poland and the Netherlands, the White-and-Reds reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 1962, eventually losing a spot in the semifinals by the narrowest margin in tie-break to the reigning champion Serbia.
This season they returned even stronger and more determined to conquer the Volleyball world. Stefano Lavarini, despite numerous odds and injuries – including injury of the Polish superstar setter Joanna Wołosz – made the team capable of beating anyone. Poland won the preliminary phase of the VNL 2023, beating powerhouses Serbia, Italy, Türkiye, China and losing only to the USA. At the VNL Finals in Arlington, they won over Germany in quarterfinals, losing the semifinals to China. In the bronze medal match, they faced again the USA, upsetting the host team in a tie-break after denied two match points. Thus, the team around Stefano Lavarini won the first medal at a major event since EuroVolley 2009 (when Poland also finished 3rd) and the first at global stage since the Olympic Games in 1968.
At the age of only 22 years old, Magdalena Stysiak became a fearless leader. The 2.03-metres-tall powerful opposite was the best scorer - and the best attacker - not only in Poland’s team, but in the entire VNL 2023 with 298 points to her name. Her teammate and Poland’s 1.99-metres-tall captain Agnieszka Korneluk topped the best blockers’ chart, while mesmerizing libero Maria Stenzel was the 2nd best digger. Also outside hitters - Martyna Łukasik, Olivia Różański and Martyna Czyrniańska – keep impressing with their skill set and quality, so it was no surprise that a 23-year-old Łukasik was in the VNL Dream Team as the best outside hitter. And despite Wołosz’s absence, the playmaking was in the safe hands of Katarzyna Wenerska and Julia Nowicka. However, playmaking virtuoso Joanna Wołosz is back on the board as only yesterday she played with Poland a friendly game against Türkiye in Krosno, won by the team around Stefano Lavarini 3-1.
Lavarini showed that every player in his roster – no matter if in the starting lineup or from the bench – can make a difference on the court and this – next to their team spirit – seems to be their greatest strength in the chase for the next wins. However, you could call it even "SuperPowers" following the lyrics of the song that accompanied the team this season (check it HERE!). They will start the EuroVolley 2023 quest in Pool A in Belgium. And be aware, Poland women's team is on the rise!
