Poland’s 2025 roster mixes veterans and youngsters

Looking to build from a very successful 2024 season, which saw them return to the Olympics after 16 years and win a second-straight medal in the Volleyball Nations League, Poland women’s national team will get 2025 started with 33 players in their squad.

The excellent results achieved last season took Poland to sixth place in the FIVB World Rankings and they will try to keep climbing it in the next few months, when they will compete in the VNL and the FIVB World Championship.

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Italian head coach Stefano Lavarini will have nine of the 13 players that represented the country last year at the Paris Olympics back in 2025 – setter Katarzyna Wenerska, opposites Magdalena Stysiak and Malwina Smarzek, outside hitters Martyna Czyrniańska, Martyna Łukasik and Olivia Różański, middle blockers Agnieszka Korneluk and Magdalena Jurczyk and libero Aleksandra Szczygłowska.

The absences include team captain and star setter Joanna Wołosz, outside hitter Natalia Mędrzyk, middle blocker Klaudia Alagierska and libero Maria Stenzel.

“Some players indicated they were not ready to play this season,” Lavarini said. “Some cannot be available for health reasons, and others for personal matters, and I respect their choices. It’s the start of a new cycle now, and we would like to put more emphasis on testing athletes who could have a place in the team for the next few years.”

The list released by the Italian coach includes some of the standouts of the recently ended Polish Tauron Liga, such as outside hitters Julia Orzoł, Julita Piasecka and Paulina Damaske and middle blockers Dominika Pierzchała and Weronika Centka-Tietianiec.

The first players will report to training on May 4, but the majority of the squad will only be available on May 11. Lavarini’s plan is to first determine the 30 players that will be entered in the VNL and then create a core group of about 20 athletes, who will be used during the tournament.

“The fact that we’ll host the VNL Finals and are already qualified will give us the opportunity to rotate the team, especially in the first week,” he added. “Then, at the end of the VNL, we’ll be able to get the feedback on each player, considering what they did in training and during matches, and that will help us determine the squad that will play at the World Championship. At the same time we want to use this opportunity to start building the team for the next Olympic cycle, we also want to get good results.”

VNL campaign begins in China

In the first week of the VNL, from June 4-8, the Polish will play in Beijing, China, where they will face Thailand, the home team, Türkiye and Belgium.

At the World Championship, which is going to be held in Thailand, from August 22-September 7, the Europeans are part of Pool G and will have Germany, Kenya and Vietnam as their first opponents.

Poland women’s national team roster (subject to eligibility check to be conducted by the FIVB):

Setters: Alicja Grabka, Julia Bińczycka, Julia Nowicka, Katarzyna Wenerska, Marlena Kowalewska, Wiktoria Szewczyk
Opposites: Aleksandra Rasińska, Julia Szczurowska, Magdalena Stysiak, Malwina Smarzek
Оutside hitters: Julia Orzoł, Julita Piasecka, Karolina Drużkowska, Martyna Borowczak, Martyna Czyrniańska, Martyna Łukasik, Natalia Murek, Olivia Różański, Paulina Damaske
Middle blockers: Agata Milewska, Agnieszka Korneluk, Aleksandra Gryka, Anna Obiała, Dominika Pierzchała, Joanna Pacak, Magdalena Jurczyk, Natalia Kecher, Sonia Stefanik, Weronika Centka-Tietianiec
Liberos: Adriana Adamek, Aleksandra Szczygłowska, Justyna Łysiak, Klaudia Łyduch

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