Poland swept Italy 3-0 in the 2025 Volleyball Nations League (VNL) final in Ningbo, China.
The commanding victory (25:22, 25:19, 25:14) marked Poland’s second VNL championship, replicating their gold-medal run from 2023.
Led by head coach Nikola Grbić, the Polish squad blazed through the final tournament without dropping a single set—defeating Japan in the quarterfinals and Brazil in the semifinals, both with clean 3-0 scorelines. Their final performance against reigning world champions Italy left no room for doubt: Poland currently reigns supreme in world volleyball.
Leon and Semeniuk Lead the Charge
Wilfredo Leon was a force of nature, racking up 16 points and dominating from both the serve line and frontcourt. He was closely supported by Kamil Semeniuk, who tallied 14 points with razor-sharp attacks and key serves. On the other side, Italy’s only double-digit scorer was Daniele Lavia with 11 points.
Poland outshone Italy in all metrics—outscoring them in blocks (10 to 6), limiting their unforced errors (18 compared to Italy’s 25), and applying relentless pressure in attack and defense.
Set-by-Set Breakdown
- Set 1 (25:22): The opening set was tightly contested until a late surge, led by Leon and Semeniuk, pushed Poland ahead. Italy’s errors in the closing moments sealed their fate.
- Set 2 (25:19): The Poles built a comfortable lead early on, and despite a brief Italian rally, maintained control with disciplined blocks and powerful finishes.
- Set 3 (25:14): By the third set, Poland was in full command. They raced to a massive lead, capitalizing on Italian miscommunications and closing the match with clinical precision.
Grbić’s Golden Legacy Grows
This title adds another chapter to Nikola Grbić’s golden resume. Having guided Poland to VNL victory in 2023 and now again in 2025, Grbić has cemented his legacy as one of the sport’s top experts.
Poland’s performance was also a testament to its depth and resilience. Despite the absence of Tomasz Fornal, the team’s synergy never wavered.
Looking Ahead to the World Stage
With this VNL triumph, Poland sends a clear message ahead of the upcoming World Championship in the Philippines. Having defeated the world champions without conceding a set, the team’s confidence is soaring. Meanwhile, Italy will need to regroup and recalibrate if they hope to defend their world title.
The volleyball world will be watching closely as these titans prepare for their next possible clash.
Italy vs Poland 0-3 ( (22:25, 19:25, 14:25)
Italy: Michieletto (7), Giannelli (1), Rychlicki (4), Galassi (4), Lavia (11), Anzani (3), Balaso (libero); Bottolo (3), Romano (3), Porro (1), Sbertoli, Gargiulo, Pace (libero)
Poland: Komenda (3), Leon (16), Kochanowski (7), Semeniuk (14), Sasak (6), Nowak, Popiwczak (libero); Bednorz, Jakubiszak (4)
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