Warning sign before Olympics. Polish volleyball players need to improve

Even before the match, the coach Nikola Grbich He announced that he will play only one set on Saturday and Sunday. Wilfredo LeonThe recipient has recently been suffering from minor health problems, He did not play at the Hubert Wagner Memorial.In Saturday’s match in Tricity, he was quickly stopped by the Japanese, but responded with two service winners. Then there was a block in the execution. Bartosz KurekThe hosts were leading 11:8.

But after a while the Japanese equalized. The Polish volleyball players regained their advantage when he surprised their opponents with a serve. Matthew BennickIn turn, he ambushed the Japanese central bloc. Norbert HuberThe rivals responded with amazing actions and again led to a draw 19:19. The Poles saved themselves with a serve, and in the end the emotions were high. At a key moment, Alexander Sluka “hid” his hands in the block.The European champions won 25:23.

Friendly tournament in Gdansk The match was supposed to start with Serbia vs USA.However, the Balkan volleyball players were unable to reach Tricity due to logistical problems caused by a global IT systems failure. The organizers tried to organize an alternative, but failed.In contrast, the Americans held a training session open to fans, playing one set of indoor games. On Sunday, the Japanese will offer similar attractions to their fans.

Asian volleyball players have cemented their place among the world’s best this season.They finished second in the Nations League final tournament in Lodz, Only losing in the final to FranceThe Whites and Reds lost to the upcoming Olympic hosts in the semi-finals and finished third.

For the second match of Sunday’s match Kamil Semenyuk joined the Polish national team to replace Leon.The score hovered around a draw for a long time. However, after a mistake by the Polish volleyball players in the reception, Japan was leading 16:13. “Keep your zone,” Grbic appealed to the volleyball players during the break. They reduced the losses to one point, but when the opponent’s block was attacked by a substitute introduced Lukas KaczmarekJapan won with a time of 21:18. It increased its advantage even more. Yuji NishidaThe visitors won 25:20.

Semenyuk just “stood” on the pitch, finishing two of the four balls in attack, but he was not stable in the reception. Tomasz Fornal has already started the third match. The Whites and Reds were leading by two or three points from the start. However, after two smashes from Nishida, the Japanese led 8:7. After more brilliant performances, the visitors’ advantage increased to three points. With the score at 17:14 in favor of their rivals, Grbic took advantage of the second break. It was not a quiet speech. The volleyball players still have problems with reception and the losses cannot be compensated for. Japan won decisively – 25:19.

Polish volleyball players started the fourth game better. They quickly got three points. However, when the score was 6:3, a catastrophic event occurred.The Japanese center fell while trying to hit the ball. Kentaro TakahashiHe had to leave the hall on a stretcher, With stiff neck with bone collar. However, the match had to continue. Poland jumped four points but their opponents quickly cut their losses and the European champions managed only 14:13.

However, when Fornal scored a point with his serve, they were up by four points again. However, the 20:16 lead soon turned into almost a draw. The Japanese eventually leveled the score at 23:23. However, the home side withstood the pressure, winning the next two games and reaching the tie-break..

The fans who packed into the Ergo Arena watched the fifth set. There was a point-for-point fight there. Volleyball players on both sides made a lot of mistakes. However, when the sides changed, the guests were leading by two points. Grbic called on Semenyuk to help, and Kuric worked to tie the game 9:9. The end of the tiebreak was also equal, and the result was decided by power play. The Japanese won with a time of 17:15..

The last match for the Whites and Reds before the Olympic Games in Paris will be held on Sunday. Their opponent will be the United States national team.

From Ergo Arena in Tricity Damian Julep

Poland: Kuric, Huber, Leon, Janusz, Pinnick, Sliuka – Zatorski (libero) and Kachmarek, Lomacs, Fornal, Semenyuk, Boldz.

Japan: Nishida, Yamauchi, R. Takahashi, Sekita, K. Takahashi, Ishikawa – Yamamoto (Libero) Uraz Miyura, Fukatsu, Kai, Onodera