The Polish national team is departing for China for the first tournament of the 2025 Nations League without outside hitter Mikołaj Sawicki. The volleyball player was removed from the squad after testing positive for doping, and today – June 5 – the result of the second “B” sample is expected, which will confirm or reject the violation.

Sawicki's loss presented coach Nikola Grbić with a difficult task – the squad only had four outside hitters, which means the team will now travel to Asia with only three players in this key position. However, Grbić made the unconventional decision to include three liberos in the group – Mateusz Czunkiewicz, Kuba Hawryluk, and Maksymilian Granieczny.

"It won't be easy, but other teams also play with a limited squad. Slovenia, for example, sometimes plays three days in a row with the same volleyball players and doesn't complain. We will manage. I just hope to avoid injuries," commented the Serbian coach of Poland after the Silesia Cup tournament.

The 'white-and-reds' squad is significantly changed compared to the main one expected to challenge for medals at the World Championship in September. Young middle blocker Jakub Nowak, who impressed with his performances in the Silesia Cup, also earned a spot in the squad and a chance to prove himself on the big stage. The absence of setter Marcin Komenda from champions Bogdanka is also noticeable.

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Setters:

• Jan Firlej

• Łukasz Kozub

Opposites:

• Kevin Sasak

• Aleksiej Nasevich

Outside Hitters:

• Michał Gierżot

• Rafał Szymura

• Artur Szalpuk

Middle Blockers:

• Jordan Zaleszczyk

• Mateusz Poręba

• Jakub Nowak

• Szymon Jakubiszak

Libero:

• Mateusz Czunkiewicz

• Maksymilian Granieczny

• Kuba Hawryluk

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1. June 11 – vs. Netherlands (without Nimir Abdel-Aziz)

2. June 12 – vs. Japan

3. June 14 – vs. Turkey

4. June 15 – vs. Serbia

🔜 Bulgaria vs. Poland – July 19 in Gdansk

The Bulgarian national team will face Poland in the second Nations League tournament. The match will be played on July 19 in Gdansk, and expectations are that by then some of the host's key stars will have returned to the squad.