Year 2017 summary: Men's U23

Poland national team qualified for the U23 World Championship in Cairo (18-25 August) at the end of July, taking victory in the European Qualification Tournament in Zagreb.

They prepared for the event in the capital of Egypt during training camps, among others, in the Olympic Preparation Centre COS in Zakopane. Then, they moved to Lower Silesia, where on August 12-15 in Jelcz Laskowice, Twardogóra and Wałbrzych they faced Brazil in three encounters. Team led by Dariusz Daszkiewicz won 4:2 (9:15, 16:14, 13:15, 15:9, 15:13, 15:12) and 4:1 (15:12, 15:7, 15:10, 10:15, 15:12) and then suffered a loss 3:4 (15:10, 7:15, 10:15, 15:10, 16:14, 13:15). The results of friendly matches were optimistic.

Winning with Cuba in the first match only raised the level of expectations. Unfortunately, it was worse later.

In Cairo, teams needed to win 4 sets to win a match (15 points were required to win a set). Moreover, after the serve a player had to land before the 9th meter line. In the capital of Egypt, FIVB decided to test new rules.

The gold medal was claimed by Argentina, silver by Russia and bronze by Cuba. Poland and Turkey shared 9-10th place.

Pools of the U23 World Championship - two best teams advance to the semi-finals:

I - Brazil, Egypt, Japan, Cuba, Mexico, Poland
II - Algeria, Argentina, China, Iran, Russia, Turkey

Results of Poland at the U23 World Championship - Pool A:

Cuba - Poland 1:4 (12:15, 15:12, 14:16, 10:15, 15:17)
Brazil - Poland 4:0 (15:10, 22:20, 22:20, 7:15)
Mexico - Poland 0:4 (8:15, 8:15, 10:15, 10:15)
Poland - Japan 2:4 (13:15, 16:14, 12:15, 13:15, 15:8, 13:15)
Egypt - Poland 1:4 (13:15, 7:15, 30:32, 15:13, 15:17)

Poland national team for the Men’s U23 World Championship

Mateusz Czunkiewicz
Dominik Depowski
Jan Firlej
Konrad Formela
Paweł Halaba
Marcin Kania
Marcin Komenda
Bartlomiej Lipiński
Jarosław Mucha
Kamil Semeniuk
Rafał Szymura
Jakub Zwiech

Coaching staff:
Dariusz Daszkiewicz – head coach
Karol Rędzioch – assistant coach
Jacek Małecki – doctor
Damian Musiak – statistician
Mateusz Kowalik – physiotherapist
Paweł Pyziak – team manager