Poland made history by securing their second FIVB Men`s Volleyball Nations League title, achieving a dominant 3-0 victory over Italy in the final match of this edition.
This significant win marks Poland`s second VNL championship, placing them alongside France and Russia as the most successful nations in the competition`s history. Poland has now accumulated six medals across seven VNL editions, solidifying their consistent excellence on the international stage.
Despite finishing fifth in the preliminary round, which suggested a challenging path to the title, Poland began the final round in Ningbo, China, with a commanding 3-0 sweep against Japan (25:23; 26:24; 25:12), demonstrating their strong form from the outset.
Their semi-final challenge pitted them against Brazil, a formidable opponent who had boasted the competition`s best record leading into the final stages, with twelve wins and only one loss.
However, Poland once again demonstrated their overwhelming strength. In a match where Kewin Sasak notably contributed 18 points, they delivered another decisive 3-0 defeat to Brazil. This powerful performance set up an anticipated all-European final against Italy, who had previously dispatched both Cuba and Slovenia with identical 3-1 victories in their respective final round matches.
The final match, however, left no room for doubt about the eventual winner. Poland delivered yet another clinical and, at times, unstoppable performance, firmly cementing their status as worthy champions.
Coach Nikola Grbić`s squad asserted control early, claiming the first set 25:22. They then maintained their flawless dominance throughout, allowing Italy only 33 points combined in the subsequent two sets (25:19, 25:14) to emphatically seal their second VNL trophy.
Wilfredo Leon, Poland`s Cuban-born star outside hitter, stepped up remarkably to fill in for the injured Tomasz Fornal. Leon led all scorers in the gold medal showdown with an impressive 16 points, with Kamil Semeniuk adding a crucial 14 points to the team`s tally.
“This means a lot! I knew they were waiting for my high-level comeback, so I tried my best. I told them, ‘I won’t leave you alone, guys! Fornal got injured, but I’ll be there!’ I gave it my all! So, we got the gold medal, and I am really happy and proud!”
— Wilfredo Leon told VBTV
Following the final, Italy earned their first-ever medal in the VNL by finishing as runners-up. Meanwhile, Brazil secured the bronze medal after defeating Slovenia 3-1 in the third-place match, completing the podium.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood