DevelopRes start title defense on the right foot

Reigning Tauron Liga champions KS DevelopRes Rzeszów started their title defense on the right foot on Tuesday, collecting their first three points in the 2025-2026 Polish League season.

The team from Rzeszów met BKS BOSTIK ZGO Bielsko-Biała on the road in the last match of the first leg of the regular season in the country and returned home with all three points, taking a solid first step to repeat as champions in seven months.

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In the match that marked the debut of new coach Cesar Hernández, DevelopRes overcame Bielsko-Biała's homecourt advantage to triumph 3-1 (25-21, 25-19, 19-25, 25-18).

One of their new signings, American outside hitter Taylor Bannister led DevelopRes' victory with a match-high 19 points (17 kills, two aces). Another new addition, fellow outside hitter Julita Piasecka contributed 13, with ten kills and three blocks.

Estonian opposite Kertu Laak was Bielsko-Biała's most productive player, with 14 points (12 kills, two blocks).

The biggest upset of the first leg of Polish League matches happened on Friday, when ITA TOOLS Stal Mielec went on the road and took down last year's third-place finishers PGE Grot Budowlani Łódź 3-2 (25-23, 25-17, 20-25, 20-25, 15-11). 20-year-old middle blocker Rozalia Moszyńska scored 20 points with 12 kills, seven blocks and one ace and took home the MVP award.

Another five-setter happened on Saturday, when LOTTO Chemik Police came back to beat Sokół & Hagric Mogilno 3-2 (17-25, 25-18, 25-19, 20-25, 15-10) at home. Opposite Weronika Gierszewska led the team with 20 points (15 kills, five blocks).

Last year's runners-up ŁKS Commercecon Łódź had a smoother start to their campaign, going on the road and defeating UNI Opole 3-1 (25-23, 25-23, 14-25, 26-24) on Saturday. Brazilian outside hitter Regiane Bidias was their leading scorer with 20 points (17 kills, two aces, one block).

Held on Thursday, the first match of the season had #VolleyWrocław sweeping (27-25, 25-25, 25-10) rookies EcoHarpoon NOWEL LOS Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki at home. Croatian opposite Barbara Đapić scored 19 points (16 kills, three blocks) in their victory.

On Monday, MOYA Radomka Radom also needed only three sets to get their first victory, taking Metalkas Pałac Bydgoszcz down 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-20). Opposite Monika Gałkowska was their individual offensive standout, with 15 points (13 kills, two aces).

The second leg of the Polish League will have another six matches, going from Thursday to Sunday.

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