Currently, there is still no officially announced final roster for Poland for the friendly tournament in Sosnowiec and Katowice against Serbia, Ukraine, and Bulgaria. Today, only Nikola Grbić's broad list for the 2026 season, published by PZPS and the Polish media, continues to appear online.
No official group of 14 or 16 volleyball players specifically for the tournament has been published, nor a final roster for the matches against Bulgaria, Serbia, and Ukraine. Polish media also write that the tournament will primarily be used to test young players and debutants.
The head coach of the Polish national team, Nikola Grbić, is starting the 2026 season with a clear message – rejuvenation of the squad and a chance for the new generation. Already in the 'white-and-reds'' first friendly tournament, which begins on May 20 in Sosnowiec and Katowice against Serbia, Ukraine, and Bulgaria, fans will see numerous new names in the representative team.
A total of 12 potential debutants received a chance to prove themselves in the Polish men's national team, having trained in Spała under Grbić's leadership since May 4. The coach is gradually passing the baton to young players, with a new generation already forming in the team.
Among the most interesting names is 17-year-old setter Jakub Przybyłkowicz, who became the youngest national team call-up in Polish history. The talent admits he learned the news from his mother after Nikola Grbić personally contacted her.
Another curious case is Bartosz Zych – the 19-year-old outside hitter for ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle learned about his call-up via Instagram because his old phone number was listed in the federation's database.
Several players from the Polish First League also made it into the team, which is a relatively rare phenomenon for the Polish national team. Among them are setters Marcel Bakaj and Błażej Ben, as well as outside hitter Michał Grabek. The latter admits his teammates were shocked by the call-up because players from the second tier rarely get a chance in the men's national team.
Libero Maksym Kędzierski also has an interesting story. The SKRA Bełchatów volleyball player was supposed to go on a vacation to Asia, but on his birthday, he received a call from Nikola Grbić. He immediately canceled his trip, despite the financial losses from the plane tickets, to join the national team camp.
Among the debutants are also middle blockers Jakub Majchrzak and Mateusz Nowak, who already have successes with Poland's youth teams, as well as 21-year-old setter Sergiusz Serafin – son of former national player Wojciech Serafin.
A "veteran" in this group is Mateusz Nowak, who already has experience with the Polish men's national team, having been part of the squad that won bronze medals at the 2025 World Championship in the Philippines. Nevertheless, the 22-year-old middle blocker remains among the young players on whom Nikola Grbić places his hopes for the next Olympic cycle.
The rejuvenation of the squad shows that Poland is already thinking not only about the present but also about the next Olympic cycle. The first tests against Bulgaria, Serbia, and Ukraine will be an important test for the young players and for Nikola Grbić's new vision for the future of "Druzyna Polska".
Polish media expect precisely the young debutants to get a chance in the season's first tournament, but the official roster for the matches in Sosnowiec and Katowice has not yet been announced.