Palac

Pałac haven't defeated DevelopRes in Tauron Liga matches in almost a decade (Photo: Tauron Liga)

Undefeated in their last two matches and having collected five victories in their last six 2025-2026 Tauron Liga encounters, Metalkas Pałac Bydgoszcz will put their good form to the test in the ninth leg of the regular season.

Trying to keep their momentum, they will count on the support of their home fans to push them in what should be one of the most challenging matches of the season, against defending champions and league leaders KS DevelopRes Rzeszów on Monday, at 17:30 local time (16:30 UTC).

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Pałac started their 2026-2026 campaign with a defeat to MOYA Radomka Radom, but then won three in a row to get to seventh place. An upset against PGE Budowlani Łódź made them drop one spot, but the team recovered well with back-to-back victories and got up to sixth place last weekend, with 13 points (five wins, two losses) - they have one game in hand.

A new signing for the team in 2025-2026, Greek outside hitter Élena Báka has been key in Pałac's promising start to the season, as she leads the team in points with 90. Middle blocker Dominika Witowska leads the league with 29 block points and has contributed 69 overall in the team's campaign.

After winning the Tauron Liga for the first time last season, DevelopRes dropped the third match of their title defense, going down to Budowlani. Since then, however, the Rzeszów side won five in a row, collecting all 15 possible points, and are clear at the top of the standings with 22 points (seven wins, one loss), four above second-placed UNI Opole and third-placed Budowlani.

A new addition this season, American opposite Taylor Bannister ranks fourth in the Tauron Liga in points (119) and second in aces (15). Middle blocker Dominika Pierzchała, who ranks third in the league in blocks (27) and libero Aleksandra Szczygłowska, who's fourth in passing efficiency (59.09%), are other standouts in their campaign.

"We're currently playing an average of two matches a week, and in some situations, we have important matches right back to back," Bannister said of the team's form. "Our goal is for all the girls on the team to be ready to play and prepared for the matches. We also need to look after our mental health, as the situation can sometimes be a bit uncomfortable and chaotic, but we have to stay calm."

If they manage to take DevelopRes down on Monday, that will mark just the fourth time Pałac gets to do it in 30 Tauron Liga encounters involving the teams. They last did it ten years ago, in the 2015-2016 season, having dropped the last 18 matches to their opponents.

First match on Friday

The ninth leg of the regular season in Poland begins on Friday, when tenth-placed Sokół & Hagric Mogilno host eighth-placed ITA TOOLS STAL Mielec at 17:30 (16:30 UTC). On Sunday, 12th-placed EcoHarpoon NOWEL LOS Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki face fourth-placed BKS BOSTIK ZGO Bielsko-Biała also at 17:30 (16:30 UTC).

Tauron Liga - Match Schedule & Results

On Monday, after the match between Pałac and DevelopRes, the league will have fifth-placed ŁKS Commercecon Łódź battling ninth-placed LOTTO Chemik Police at 19:00 (18:00 UTC) and sixth-placed Radomka Radom meeting third-placed Budowlani one hour later. The last match of the week will take place on Tuesday, when second-placed UNI Opole play 11th-placed #VolleyWrocław at 19:00 (18:00 UTC).

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