Year 2017 summary: Women's National Team

The first goal set for Poland women's national team in season 2017 was to qualify for the next year's World Championship in Japan. Despite the home court advantage and the initial victories in matches against Cyprus, Iceland and Slovakia, the white-and-reds did not manage to defeat the Czech Republic and team Serbia - the silver medallists of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio - were too strong for our players.

After gaining valuable experience at the prestigious Montreux Volley Masters - where Poland took the 5th place - the team started the FIVB World Grand Prix series. In all three tournaments of the pool phase, Jacek Nawrocki's players lost only two matches - both against Korea. The Poles made up for these two defeats during the Division 2 Final Four in Ostrava, Czech Republic, taking a straight-set victory over Korea in the great final.

The European Championship in Azerbaijan and Georgia was the most important event of the year 2017 for Poland women's national team. They opened the pool phase with two wins - against Germany and Hungary - but then they suffered a loss against the very strong hosts. To get a spot in the quarter-final, they had to win the playoff match. However, they met powerful Turkey on their way to desired quarter-final, and despite stiff fight they lost 1:3 (22:25, 25:27, 25:18, 23:25). Eventually, Azerbaijan and Turkey played against each other in the bronze medal match of the 2017 EuroVolley, the game ending with a victory of Turkey. On the top of the podium we saw Serbia, who had outclassed all rivals on their way to gold, while the second place was taken by the Netherlands.

Women’s World Championships Qualification, Round 2: 23-28 May, Warsaw:

Poland – Cyprus 3:0 (25:14, 25:17, 25:1715
Poland – Iceland 3:0 (25:16, 25:5, 25:18)
Poland – Slovakia 3:1 (25:19, 25:15, 26:28, 25:19)
Poland – Czech Republic 2:3 (25:33, 14:25, 25:14, 22:25, 9:15)
Poland – Serbia 0:3 (15:25, 16:25, 15:25)

Montreux Volley Masters, 6-11 June, Montreux, Switzerland:

Pool phase:
Poland – Brazil 1:3 (20:25, 25:21, 23:25, 24:26)
Poland – Thailand 3:1 (25:17, 22:25, 25:23, 27:25)
Poland – Germany 3:2 (21:25, 20:25, 25:19, 25:12, 15:8)

5th-8th place matches:
Poland – Switzerland 3:0 (25:16, 25:16, 25:16)

FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix 2017, Division 2, 6-30 July:

Pool B2, 6-9 July, Neuquen, Argentina
Poland – Croatia 3:0 (25:10, 25:9, 25:18)
Poland – Canada 3:0 (25:22, 25:9, 25:23)
Poland – Argentina 3:0 (25:21, 25:19, 25:14)

Pool E2, 14-16 July, Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski
Poland – Peru 3:1 (22:25, 25:17, 27:25, 27:25)
Poland – Argentina 3:0 (25:10, 26:24, 25:15)
Poland – Korea 1:3 (26:24, 23:25, 19:25, 24:26)

Pool H2, 21-23 July, Suwon, South Korea
Poland – Columbia 3:0 (25:15, 25:14, 25:16)
Poland – Kazakhstan 3:0 (25:12, 25:21, 25:14)
Poland – Korea 0:3 (23:25, 20:25, 22:25)

Final Four Division 2, 29-30 July, Ostrava, Czech Republic
Poland – Czech Republic 3:1 (25:27, 25:20, 25:21, 25:20)
Polska – Korea 3:0 (25:19, 25:21, 25:21)

CEV Women's European Volleyball Championship – EuroVolley 2017, 22 September – 1 October, Azerbaijan and Georgia:

Pool phase – pool A, 22-25 September, Baku
Poland – Germany 3:2 (23:25, 25:15, 18:25, 25:23, 15:5)
Poland – Hungary 3:1 (25:22, 19:25, 25:17, 25:18)
Poland – Azerbaijan 0:3 (14:25, 21:25, 23:25)

Play-offs, 26-27 September, Baku
Poland – Turkey 1:3 (22:25, 25:27, 25:18, 23:25)

Poland national team for the Montreux Volley Masters 2017:

Klaudia Alagierska
Monika Bociek
Roksana Brzóska
Zuzanna Efimienko-Młotkowska
Martyna Grajber
Małgorzata Jasek
Agnieszka Kąkolewska
Aleksandra Krzos
Natalia Mędrzyk
Marlena Pleśnierowicz
Patrycja Polak
Malwina Smarzek
Agata Witkowska
Joanna Wołosz

Coaching staff:
Jacek Nawrocki – head coach
Waldemar Kawka – 2nd coach
Magdalena Frejowska – physiotherapist
Marcin Kąkol – physiotherapist
Eduardo Romero – physical preparation coach
Radosław Wodziński – statistician
Krzysztof Zając – doctor

Poland national team for the World Grand Prix

Klaudia Alagierska
Monika Bociek
Roksana Brzóska
Zuzanna Efimienko-Młotkowska
Martyna Grajber
Małgorzata Jasek
Agnieszka Kąkolewska
Aleksandra Krzos
Marlena Pleśnierowicz
Patrycja Polak
Malwina Smarzek
Berenika Tomsia
Agata Witkowska
Joanna Wołosz

Coaching staff:
Jacek Nawrocki – head coach
Waldemar Kawka – assistant coach
Błażej Krzyształowicz – cooperating coach
Eduardo Romero – physical preparation coach
Radosław Wodziński – statistician
Piotr Olenderek – statistician, team manager
Krzysztof Zając – doctor
Łukasz Witczak – physiotherapist
Marcin Kąkol – physiotherapist

Poland national team for CEV Women's European Volleyball Championship – EuroVolley 2017

Monika Bociek
Roksana Brzóska
Zuzanna Efimienko-Młotkowska
Martyna Grajber
Agnieszka Kąkolewska
Aleksandra Krzos
Natalia Murek
Marlena Pleśnierowicz
Patrycja Polak
Malwina Smarzek
Maja Tokarska
Julia Twardowska
Agata Witkowska
Joanna Wołosz

Coaching staff:
Jacek Nawrocki – head coach
Waldemar Kawka – 2nd coach
Rafał Gąsior – assistant coach
Eduardo Romero – physical preparation coach
Radosław Wodziński – statistician
Piotr Olenderek – statistician
Krzysztof Zając – doctor
Łukasz Witczak – physiotherapist
Marcin Kąkol – physiotherapist