As the start of the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) approaches, national teams are announcing their extended rosters. For Bulgaria, the lists of teams against which the "lionesses" will compete are of interest. The Bulgarian team's VNL schedule includes matches against bothPoland (third week in Japan, July 11-13), as well as againstCzech Republic (second week in China, June 19-22). Here are the players that the coaching staffs of the two rivals will rely on:
Poland's Extended Roster under Stefano Lavarini
Today, May 7, was the deadline for submitting the extended rosters for VNL 2025, and the Polish Volleyball Federation announced the list of players that head coachStefano Lavariniwill rely on. FIVB allows for two changes to the roster due to health reasons, which must be reported no later than May 14. The absence ofJoanna Wołosz, who won the Champions League with Conegliano last week, is notable.
Here is the list of called-up Polish players:
Setters: Alicja Grabka, Marlena Kowalewska, Julia Nowicka, Wiktoria Szewczyk, Katarzyna Wenerska
Opposites: Aleksandra Rasińska, Malwina Smarzek, Magdalena Stysiak, Julia Szczurowska
Outside Hitters: Martyna Borowczak, Martyna Czyrniańska, Paulina Damaske, Karolina Drużkowska,Martyna Lukasik, Natalia Murek, Julia Ojrzol, Julita Piasecka, Olivia Rozanski
Middle blockers:Weronika Centka-Tiegs, Aleksandra Gryka, Magdalena Jurczyk,Agnieszka Korneluk, Anna Obiala, Dominika Pierzchala, Sonia Stefanik
Libero:Adriana Adamek, Klaudia Liduch, Justyna Lisiak, Aleksandra Szczyglowska
Coaching Staff:Stefano Lavarini – head coach, Nikola Vettori – assistant coach.
The Czech national team, which won the Challenger Cup last summer and thus secured a place for its first participation in the Volleyball Nations League in 2025, also announced its extended squad. The team is led by head coachIoannis Athanasopoulos.
Here is the extended squad of the Czech Republic:
Setters:Kveta Grabovska, Katerina Pelikanova, Anna Pragerova, Katerina Valkova
Opposites:Gabriela Orvosova, Monika Brancuska, Jana Fiksova, Anna Semanova, Karoline Formankova
Outside Hitters:Magdalena Bukowska, Klara Dite, Helena Havelkova Grozer, Eva Hodanova, Michaela Mlejnkova, Denisa Pavlikova, Eva Svobodova, Josefina Smolkova, Bara Reimanova
Middle blockers:Magdalena Jehlarzova, Ema Kneiflova, Ella Kulisyani, Silvie Pavlova, Lucie Blazkova, Lucie Janska, Elen Jedlickova
Libero:Daniela Digrinova, Veronika Dostalova, Barbora Chalupkova, Lucie Kolarzova.
