In spite of a dream, 3-0 start to the 2018 FIVB Men’s Volleyball Nations League, which has them sitting in the #1 position in the table after week 1, Poland has made big changes to their roster for week 2.
The team will play at home again in week 2 as they move from Krakow to Lodz. After beating South Korea, Russia, and Canada (Canada is the only team that stole a set) in week 1, they’ll now face France, China, and Germany in week 2. France is also undefeated after 1 week of play.
3 of the 5 newcomers played for Poland in last year’s World League, including Mateusz Bieniek, who was the team’s 3rd-best scorer in the World League last year with 84 points.
One of the new-comers is a call-up from Poland’s junior teams. 20-year old Bartosz Kwolek, an outside hitter, was named the best outside hitter at last year’s U21 World Championship (which Poland won). The other, Michal Zurek, will serve as the backup libero.
Players joining Poland’s 14-man roster:
- Maciej Muzaj – outside hitter
- Bartosz Kurek – outside hitter
- Michal Zurek – libero
- Bartosz Kwolek – receiver
- Mateusz Bieniek – middle blocker
Players dropped from Poland’s 14-man roster:
- Lukasz Kaczmarek (18 points)
- Damian Schulz (17 points)
- Bartlomiej Lemanski (5 points)
- Bartosz Bednorz (6 points)
- Kacper Piechocki (reserve libero)
Poland’s full 14-man roster for week 2 in Lodz
- Setters: Fabian Drzyzga, Grzegorz Lomacz
- Receivers/Outside Hitters: Artur Szalpuk, Michal Kubiak (Captain), Aleksander Sliwka, Maciej Muzaj, Bartosz Kurek, Bartosz Kwolek
- Opposites: Dawid Konarski
- Middle Blockers: Pitor Nowakowski, Jakub Kochanowski, Mateusz Bieniek
- Liberos: Pawel Zatorski, Michal Zurek
Actually it was Canada, not Russia, that was the only one to steal a set! Go Canada! 🙂