The Polish student volleyball national team fulfilled its dream and concluded its Universiade participation with gold medals. In the final, the "white-and-reds" decisively defeated Brazil's team 3-0 in sets, demonstrating class and confidence from the first to the last point. Italy secured the bronze after a 3-1 victory over Japan.
The Final: Dominance from the first point
The battle for the title in the competition began with a categorical superiority from the Poles, who took an early 4-0 lead. The Brazilian team looked unconvincing in both defense and attack. Nasiewicz was unstoppable in offense, solidly supported by Michał Gierżot, who performed at a high level throughout the tournament.
The nominal hosts – the "Canarinhos" – had no answer against either Poland's powerful serve or their organized block. The score quickly swelled to 14:7, then 20:10, and the set concluded at 25:15.
Second set: more of the same
The second set presented the same picture – strong initial pressure from the Poles and an unsuccessful attempt by the Brazilians to catch up. The start was slightly more balanced (4:2, 8:7), but the South Americans' resistance was short-lived. The Sabino-Ferreira duo tried, but reception errors and out-of-bounds attacks again tilted the scales.
Michał Gierżot continued to be consistent and accurate, while Daniel Popiel added important points in key moments. Strong blocking and saved balls in defense gave Poland the advantage, and the set was closed at 25:18 after a Brazilian service error.
Third set: efforts without result
In the third set, Brazil gave its all to extend the match, but even more balanced play did not lead to a change in the final outcome. The Poles maintained control, and Popiel's block at 20:16 seemed to crush the "Canarinhos'" hopes. The match was concluded with an attack by Nasiewicz – 25:20 and it was over – gold for Poland!
Bronze Final: Italy defeated Japan
The match for third place was more contested, where Italy and Japan played four hard-fought sets. Despite the resistance of the Asians, the "Azzurri" performed better and won the bronze medals:
| Match | Score | Sets |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil – Poland | 0:3 | (15:25, 18:25, 20:25) |
| Italy – Japan | 3:1 | (34:32, 25:19, 23:25, 25:16) |
Grbić's plan worked: Poland's young hopes shine at the Universiade too
Even before the start of the national team season, Poland's coach Nikola Grbić announced an expanded squad of 30 volleyball players, but it was clear that he would not rely on everyone simultaneously. The biggest stars – including Tomasz Fornal, Jakub Kochanowski, and Wilfredo León – only appeared on the court during the home Nations League tournament in Gdańsk.
In the first tournaments, the Serbian specialist gave a chance to less experienced players, including rising young talents like Aleksey Nasiewicz, Michal Gerzot, and Jordan Zaleszczyk. The three debuted for the Polish squad during the first Nations League tournament in Xi'an, China. Later, Gerzot received another opportunity in the squad for the tournament in Chicago.
Following these appearances, five of these promising players – Nasiewicz, Gerzot, Zaleszczyk, as well as setter Kajetan Kubicki and outside hitter Seweryn Lipinski – joined Poland's academic national team to participate in this year's Universiade. There they demonstrated their potential, playing a key role in winning the gold medals.
