Year 2017 summary: Women's U20

Summary of 2017: Women's U20 national team

Poland junior national team took the 6th place at the U20 World Championship in Cordoba, Mexico. The white-and-red team suffered a loss in the last match from Brazil 1:3. In the pool phase the Polish team led by Wiesław Popik defeated the eventual champions - China 3:2. In the final, the team from Asia won over Russia 3:0 (25:22, 25:22, 25:16). Turkey lost against Japan in bronze medal match 2:3 (25:19, 20:25, 25:18, 20:25, 12:15).

White-and-reds received many praises for their games. At the Warsaw Chopin Airport the team was welcomed by Paweł Papke, Polish Volleyball Federation BOA Member, Włodzimierz Sadalski, Director of PVF Sport and Training Department and Grzegorz Wagner, Director of PVF Championship School in Szczyrk.

On behalf of the President of the Polish Volleyball Federation Jacek Kasprzyk, Paweł Papke ongratulated team on a good result at the Junior World Championship.

- Poland women national team have not achieved such a good result at the Junior World Championship in a long time - said Paweł Papke. - Thank you for your great sport attitude. I wish you success in your new club teams and in the national senior team in future.

Before the World Championship started, Poland national team impressed by the style in which they qualified for the event. In the qualification tournament which was held in Wieliczka, they defeated Belgium, Bulgaria and Germany.

- The team showed very good volleyball. Then we had time to refine our assets. We are satisfied with a fine performance and with how the championship in Mexico went. We commend them for their ambition and will to fight. I would like to thank the players for the great attitude which they presented during qualification, championship and in preparation period- said coach Wiesław Popik.

U20 World Championship Qualification, Round 1: 6-8 January, Viana do Castelo

Poland - Belgium 1:3 (7:25, 20:25, 25:19, 21:25)
Poland - Portugal 3:0 (25:18, 25:14, 25:21)

U20 World Championship Qualification, Round 2: 19-21 May, Wieliczka:

Poland - Germany 3:0 (25:12, 25:18, 25:17)
Poland - Bulgaria 3:0 (25:11, 25:13, 25:21)
Poland - Belgium 3:1 (25:17, 28:30, 25:13, 25:17)

U20 World Championship: 14-23 July, Cordoba and Boca del Rio:

Pool phase
Poland - Dominican Republic 2:3 (25:20, 23:25, 25:20, 17:25, 14:16)
Poland - China 3:2 (16:25, 26:24,15:25, 25:15,15:12)
Poland - Peru 3:1 (25:18, 25:22, 14:25, 25:12

Round 2
Poland - Brazil 3:0 (25:14, 25:18, 25:23)
Poland - Russia 0:3 (20:25, 15:25, 14:25)
Poland - Turkey 1:3 (25:13, 20:25, 24:26, 18:25)

5th-8th place matches
Poland - USA 3:1 (25:14, 25:16, 20:25, 25:20)
Poland - Brazil 1:3 (17:25, 21:25, 29:27, 21:25)

Poland national team for the Women’s U20 World Championship:

Oliwia Bałuk
Zuzanna Górecka
Alicja Grabka
Aleksandra Gryka
Aleksandra Lipska
Martyna Łukasik
Justyna Łysiak
Natalia Murek
Julia Nowicka
Kinga Rożyńska
Maria Stenzel
Maryna Świrad

Coaching staff
Wiesław Popik – head coach
Miłosz Majka – assistant coach
Mateusz Zarczyński – statistician
Jan Pająk – doctor
Tomasz Dudek – physiotherapist
Kacper Duda – team manager