The three points collected with the sweep put the Polish at the top of the Pool B standings ahead of continental rivals the Netherlands, who downed Qatar 3-1 (25-18, 25-23, 26-28, 25-23 and have the same three points, but a lower set ratio. The best two teams in the pool will qualify for the elimination rounds.
Back with his country's national team after sitting out of the Volleyball Nations League, Polish captain and star opposite Bartosz Kurek had a strong return, delivering 13 points (ten kills, two blocks, one ace). Outside hitters Wilfredo León, with 14 points (11 kills, two aces, one block), and Tomasz Fornal, with ten (six kills, three blocks, one ace), also had productive performances in Poland's debut.
"It's great to be back," Kurek reacted. "The time off I took this season wasn't exactly planned, and I had to push hard to get back in form and be able to be here with the team. It's a long tournament and we want to be here until the end. We don't come in with specific expectations because they are what take you down. We only need to go on the court and approach every match as if it were the final, and then hopefully we'll get to the real final."
