Poland crushed Cuba at the start of the Nations League, with no changes in the world rankings
The Polish national team started its participation in the Nations League in an impressive way. In their first match of the tournament in the Chinese city of Linyi, the Poles gave Cuba no chances and achieved a clear victory with3:0 (25:16, 25:20, 25:21).
Nikola Grbic's proteges dominated from the very beginning of the match. In the first set, the European champions were undisputed and and won it 25:16. In the second part, the Cubans managed to briefly close the gap, but Poland again controlled the events on the court and closed the set at 25:20.
The third set turned out to be the most contested, with Cuba showing better play and putting up more serious resistance. Nevertheless, the Poles did not allow a surprise and, after 25:21, put an end to the dispute.
Team Statistics
| Category | Cuba | Poland |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | 33 | 37 |
| Block | 7 | 11 |
| Ace | 3 | 6 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 14 | 21 |
| Total points | 57 | 75 |
| Digs | 44 | 44 |
| Reception (%) | 67 | 46 |
| Setting (%) | 87 | 73 |
Poland surpassed its opponent in all key elements of the game. The advantage in blocks (11 against 7) and serve (6 aces against 3) was particularly significant. The Poles also capitalized on Cuba's many errors, scoring 21 points after opponent's inaccuracies. An interesting fact is the equal number of digs – 44 for both teams.
Top Scorers
| Cuba | Points | Poland | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlon Yant Gonzalez | 14 | Kacper Gomulka | 15 |
| Wilson | 7 | Majchrzak | 12 |
After this match, no changes occurred in the FIVB world ranking. Poland maintained its leading position at the top of the world ranking, while Cuba remained in 12th place. The decisive success of the Poles did not lead to any shifts, as the difference in class between the two teams was reflected in the preliminary rating expectations.
The next matches for these teams are, respectively - Cuba against Ukraine and Poland against Slovenia.
