Poland Names 18-Player World League Roster

Poland has announced an 18 player roster for the 2017 FIVB World League competition that begins in early June. That roster will be whittled down to 14 for each match, but all 18 are available to coaches for selection.

All but 2 of Poland’s 2016 Olympic Team are among the 18 selected for this year. Among those missing are middle blocker and jersey #1 wearer Piotr Nowakowski, who has been on the team since their 2009 European Champion, and including their 2012 World League and 2014 World Championship titles. He and his wife are expecting their first child this summer. The other absent player is 22-year old outside hitter Bartosz Bednorz, who has been with the National Team since the 2015 World League.

Returning for the team includes Michal Kubiak, who had 9 kills, and Bartosz Kurek, who had 10, in Poland’s quarterfinal exit against the United States in Rio.

Poland’s first pool play action in Group 1 will be at the Pesaro, Italy site, where they’ll be tested early against Brazil, Italy, and Iran from June 2nd-4th. Brazil and Italy are the defending Olympic gold and silver medalists, and Iran finished 5th – the same as Poland – at that tournament.

Coaching staff and medical