VNL 2025

Brazil hand Poland their second defeat in VNL’s big match on Friday

Julia, Gabi and Diana shine on the block

Published 01:17, 11 Jul 2025

Poland (POL) vs. Brazil (BRA) women - Pool 9 - Preliminary Phase #51010639

Brazil’s Julia Kudiess on the block against Poland

Brazil owned the net in Friday’s big women’s Volleyball Nations League match against Poland in Chiba, Japan. The South American squad delivered a four-set victory, outplaying their European opponents in both spiking and blocking and handing them their second defeat of the season. Brazil are running second in the current VNL standings on a 10-1 win-loss record and 28 points. The hosts of the upcoming Finals in Lodz occupy fourth place on 8-2 and 24.

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A spectacular monster block by 22-year-old middle blocker Julia Kudiess stopped the clocks at 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 21-25, 25-22) Brazil’s way. She authored as many as six of her team’s 16 kill blocks in the match and finished with a total of 14 points. Outside hitter and captain Gabriela Guimaraes (Gabi) and middle Diana Alecrim also excelled on the block with five and four stuffs, respectively. Gabi also spiked at a 50% success rate to produce a match-high 24 points towards the victory. The other outside Julia Bergmann contributed another 22 points, including two aces, while opposite Tainara Santos also reached the double digits with 10 points to her name.

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“It felt very good, especially after the game yesterday. I think we recovered really well. We played really well today. Of course, we had ups and downs, but it was a great game,” Julia Bergmann told VBTV. “Of course, we are always going for the first place. We know we have a lot to learn and a lot to improve, but I think the group is really good. We work hard. Everyone works hard… It’s only the first year of the Olympic cycle, so I am really excited to see what this group can achieve.”

Three players reached the double digits on Poland’s side – opposite Magdalena Stysiak with 15 points, outside Martyna Lukasik with 13, and middle blocker and captain Agnieszka Korneluk with 10.