Year 2017 summary: Girls' U18

Poland girls under-18 national team led by Grzegorz Wagner began the international season in January in Kaunas at the European Championship Qualification. The white-and-reds won their matches in straight sets and booked a spot in the final tournament, which was held in the Netherlands. Poland finished 8th there and did not advance to the world championship in Argentina. However, later they got the wild card to compete at the event. At the European Championship in the bronze medal match Serbia was defeated by Belarus 2:3 (25:17, 27:29, 17:25, 25:22, 13:15). In the great final Italy suffered a loss at the hands of Russia 2:3 (25:18, 16:25, 24:26, 25:21, 10:15).

To the World Championship (18-27 August, Rosario and Santa Fe) national team prepared under the guidance of coaches Rafał Gąsior and Ireneusz Waleczek. Oliwia Bałuk, Zuzanna Górecka and Aleksandra Gryka, who competed at the U20 World Championship (where Poland claimed the 6th place), joined the team.

The pool phase set up 16 teams which advanced to the 1/8 finals. Poland played against Dominican Republic, suffering a loss in thrilling five-set match. They were leading 13:11 in tie-break.

At the end Poland was ranked 16th. In the final Italy defeated Dominican Republic 3:1 (25:23, 19:25, 25:12, 25:20), and Russia won against Turkey in the bronze medal match 3:1 (25:21, 25:21, 16:25, 25:15).

U18 European Championship Qualification, 13-15 January, Kaunas

Poland – Czech Republic 3:0 (25:23, 25:19, 27:25)
Poland – Estonia 3:0 (25:9, 25:10, 25:11)
Poland – Lithuania 3:0 (25: 9, 25:16, 25:10)

U18 European Championship: 1-9 April, Arnhem

Pool phase
Poland - Slovenia 3:1 (25:23, 25:11, 23:25, 25:23)
Poland – Romania 3:1 (25:20; 25:12; 22:25; 25:22)
Polska – Serbia 1:3 (7:25; 25:20; 14:25; 21:25)
Poland – Greece 3:0 (25:13; 25:16; 25:21)
Poland - Belarus 0:3 (20:25, 16:25, 14:25)

5th-8th place matches
Poland - Germany 1:3 (25:18, 25:19, 22:25, 25:20)
Poland – Netherlands 1:3 (12:25; 12:25; 25:23; 23:25)

U18 World Championship: 18-27 August, Rosario and Santa Fe

Pool phase
Poland - Columbia 3:0 (25:23, 25:7, 27:25)
Poland - Thailand 3:1 (25:21, 23:25, 25:17, 25:11)
Poland - Italy 2:3 (25:22, 16:25, 20:25, 25:23, 12:15)
Poland - Serbia 3:0 (29:27, 25:22, 25:23)

Play-off round
Poland – Dominican Republic 2:3 (21:25, 22:25, 25:15, 25:20, 14:16)
Poland - Brazil 1:3 (25:21, 18:25, 16:25, 17:25)
Poland - Serbia 1:3 (24:26, 25:23, 16:25, 12:25)
Poland – Slovenia 2:3 (25:16, 25:22, 13:25, 19:25, 12:15)

Poland national team for the 2017 Girls’ U18 World Championship:

Małgorzata Andersohn
Oliwia Bałuk
Paulina Damaske
Zuzanna Górecka
Aleksandra Gryka
Rozalia Hnatyszyn
Monika Jagła
Klaudia Laskowska
Julia Mazur
Adrianna Rybak
Julia Szczurowska
Paulina Zaborowska

Coaching Staff:
Rafał Gąsior – 1st coach
Ireneusz Waleczek – 2nd coach
Przemysław Kawka – statistician
Barbara Ziemniarska – physiotherapist
Sebastian Żabierek – doctor
Kacper Duda – team manager