NINGBO, CHINA — Poland put on a volleyball masterclass, overpowering Brazil in straight sets (28:26, 25:19, 25:21) to secure a place in the final of the 2025 Volleyball Nations League. In a high-pressure semifinal clash, the Polish squad showed grit, precision, and control, with Kewin Sasak emerging as the standout performer.
From the outset, both teams exchanged heavy blows, but it was Poland who handled the momentum shifts better. The first set was a nail-biter, ending in Poland’s favor after a clutch serve run from Wilfredo Leon and some incredible defensive work from Jakub Popiwczak, who handled a blistering serve from Darlan with calm precision.
The second set saw Poland quickly take control. Though Tomasz Fornal suffered a scary fall and had to be subbed out briefly, his teammates didn’t skip a beat. Sasak continued his dominant night with thunderous spikes and clever positioning, while Kamil Semeniuk, who replaced Fornal, added timely contributions to keep the tempo high.
Brazil, despite the best efforts of Darlan Souza (16 points), couldn’t break through. Too many unforced errors and inconsistent play cost them dearly, especially as Poland’s serve and block game hit peak form.
The final set was more of the same: Brazil hanging on, Poland executing under pressure. Even when the Brazilians fought back to level at 20-20, Poland answered with cool-headed plays. Jakub Kochanowski’s smart net play and Leon’s serve once again proved decisive as Poland pulled away to close the match in style.
Top Performers:
- Kewin Sasak (Poland): 19 points (17 kills, 1 ace, 1 block) — 81% attack efficiency
- Jakub Kochanowski (Poland): 10 points
- Wilfredo Leon (Poland): 9 points
- Tomasz Fornal (Poland): 9 points
- Darlan Souza (Brazil): 16 points
Poland will now face Italy in the VNL final this Sunday, eyeing the gold medal with growing confidence and momentum.
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