Poland kicked off their Volleyball Nations League 2025 home campaign in Gdańsk with a dramatic five-set triumph over Iran on Wednesday. The nearly 9,000 strong crowd at the Ergo Arena witnessed a hard-fought encounter that ultimately concluded in favor of the European hosts.
With star outside hitter Wilfredo Leon making an impactful VNL 2025 debut from the bench, the Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalists showed resilience. They battled to a 3-2 victory (25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 21-25, 15-8), delighting their home supporters.
Leon scored 11 points across the last two sets and was instrumental in the Polish victory.
Wilfredo Leon, who was rested during the initial two weeks of VNL 2025, entered the game as a substitute under coach Nikola Grbić`s guidance at a critical juncture. His crucial intervention yielded 14 points, comprising nine kills and five aces. The 31-year-old Polish sensation was particularly effective in the deciding sets, contributing six points in the fourth and five in the fifth.
Leon’s offensive output ranked second for Poland, surpassed only by outside hitter Kamil Semeniuk, who delivered an impressive 21 points (16 kills, four aces, one block). Opposite hitter Kewin Sasak also contributed significantly with 13 points, including 11 kills and two aces.
Reflecting on the grueling contest, Leon stated, “It was an exceptionally difficult match, yet we managed to revert to our fundamental strengths and secure the victory.” He added with a smile, “I was also pleased it went to five sets, as it allowed the fans to enjoy the atmosphere longer. I’ve dedicated years to preparing for these high-pressure situations, always striving to perform my best. I’m truly glad I could assist the team once more today.”
For Iran, standout opposite Amin Esmaeilnezhad mirrored Semeniuk’s offensive efforts, finishing with 19 kills, one block, and one ace. Outside hitter Morteza Sharifi also had a strong showing, accumulating 16 points from ten kills, four aces, and two blocks.
This home win propelled Poland to third in the VNL 2025 standings, boasting seven victories and 20 points. Despite the loss, Iran secured a crucial point against the FIVB World Ranking leaders, which could aid their Finals qualification bid. Currently, however, the Asian team sits in 12th place with four wins and 13 points, just outside the qualification cut-off.
In other Wednesday matches in Gdańsk, France rallied to defeat China 3-1 (22-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-17), while Cuba edged out Bulgaria in a thrilling 3-2 contest (23-25, 25-16, 23-25, 27-25, 15-13).
Upcoming matches in Gdańsk include China versus Iran, followed by Cuba taking on Poland.
Slovenia`s Strong Home Start in Ljubljana
In Ljubljana, the Slovenian team marked their first home appearance of the week with a solid 3-1 victory over Canada (21-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-21), overcoming an initial set deficit in a less tumultuous fashion than their Polish counterparts.
This crucial win and the accompanying three points propelled Slovenia from 12th to eighth in the standings. They currently stand as the top team outside the Finals qualification spots, holding five wins and 14 points. Canada, meanwhile, is in 14th place with three wins and 11 points.
Opposite Tonček Štern was pivotal in Slovenia`s turnaround, achieving a match-leading 21 points through 19 kills and two aces. Fellow outside hitters Rok Možič and Žiga Štern also contributed strongly, scoring 13 and 12 points respectively.
Team captain and middle blocker Jan Kozamernik expressed his gratitude: “It’s difficult not to perform well with such incredible home support. The fans were truly with us, and we know we can deliver exceptional volleyball in front of them. This win is an important first step towards qualifying for the Finals, and we must continue to build on this momentum in our upcoming games.”
For Canada, outside hitter Brodie Hofer was their top scorer with 11 points (eight kills, three blocks), narrowly ahead of opposite Xander Ketrzynski, who tallied ten kills.
Earlier in Ljubljana, Ukraine defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in a hard-fought match (25-21, 20-25, 20-25, 26-24, 15-13), while Italy comfortably swept Serbia 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-16).
The upcoming schedule in Ljubljana includes a match between Ukraine and Italy, followed by the Netherlands facing Slovenia.
Jasper Thornfield 
Oliver Wrenwick