Magdalena Stysiak inspired by brother - and Eda Erdem

Magdalena Stysiak became the latest player to have scored 30 points or more in a single FIVB Volleyball Nations League match when she smashed 35 points against Japan on the closing day of Week 3 at this year's competition at Italy's Adriatic resort of Rimini.

At 20 years old she is Poland's new powerful striker after getting inspiration from her brother Tomasz to take up the sport.

"Unfortunately, due to injury he was forced to retire from the sport, but when we were younger we used to play volleyball in the courtyard. And later I started to attend regular training in the Polish city of Wielun."

The towering, 1.98m-tall player was originally cast as a middle blocker. But she has been versatile enough to move to outside hitter and opposite, as the situation may require.

"I think that playing as opposite works better for me now, because I played in this position the entire club season, so it's easier," says Stysiak, who competes in the Italian League - with Savino Del Bene Scandicci for the past two years before moving to Pro Victoria Monza for the upcoming season.

"Playing as an outside hitter is more demanding, but I want to keep on learning and developing to be a versatile player."

For the time being, she's been leading Poland at the VNL - though the side has had mixed results.

"Day-by-day, game-by-game we want to play better," says Stysiak, whose biggest dream is to compete one day at the Olympic Games. "Now it's hard, but we have to overcome some difficulties. We have to keep a cold head and keep on fighting to earn more wins."

But the biggest revelation is on who has been her role model as she starts to build what seems a promising career.

"Considering still active players, definitely Eda Erdem. She is in a class of her own and playing on the other side of the net, I learn from her attitude and behaviour on the court."