The Polish women's national team will be without one of its key players \u2013 Malwina Smarzek \u2013 in the first tournament of the Volleyball Nations League. The news comes on the eve of the competition's start and has direct significance for Bulgaria, which will face the team in the second tournament on June 17 in Thailand.
The information was confirmed by the Polish Volleyball Federation (PZPS), which specified that the opposite hitter will not join the team's preparation due to important personal reasons.
The announcement makes it clear that Smarzek's absence concerns the initial stage of the competition, and at the moment there is no definitive clarity on whether she will be available for subsequent VNL tournaments.
Head coach Stefano Lavarini and his staff continue working with the group during the camp in Wa\u0142cz, but the absence of the experienced opposite hitter will limit attacking options in the first matches.
Poland begins its participation on June 3 in Nanjing (China), where they will face Belgium, Czech Republic, Serbia, and China. Before that, the team will test its strength against serious opponents \u2013 Serbia, Italy, and Turkey \u2013 in a friendly tournament in Genoa (May 22\u201324).
The Bulgarian team will meet Poland in the second VNL tournament in Thailand, with the match scheduled for June 17. At this moment, it is not excluded that Smarzek might return to the squad precisely for this phase of the competition. Last year, Bulgaria faced Poland in the VNL and lost 0:3 (13:25, 19:25, 17:25) in a third-week match played in Chiba (Japan). Smarzek was not in the squad then.
This means the situation should be monitored carefully, as her potential inclusion would significantly increase the offensive power of the Polish team in the match against Bulgaria.
We remind that besides Smarzek, we will also not see Agnieszka Korneluk in the Polish squad, as she ended her career, and Oliwia R\u00f3\u017ca\u0144ski and Julia Nowicka requested release from the national team.

photo:volleyballworld.com