Dominika Pierzchala: from the VNL to the U21 World Championship

Dominika Pierzchala is one of the standout players in Poland’s lineup during the 2023 FIVB Women’s U21 Volleyball World Championship, bringing experience from her participation in the 2023 Volleyball Nations League to the team.

“Even though I didn’t have the chance to play, being considered for Poland’s senior team that competed this year in the VNL provided me with the tools that I want to perfect here with my team in Leon,” said Pierzchala.

The tournament is streamed live on the Volleyball World YouTube channel.

The 20-year-old Pierzchala was part of the Polish team that traveled to the VNL rounds in Hong Kong, Korea, and the Finals, in Arlington, Texas, winning the bronze medal against the United States.

Furthermore, this is Pierzchala’s second FIVB World Championship; her first was in 2021, in the before-known under 20 Age Group, which took place in the Netherlands and Belgium. She has also competed in two junior European Championships.

“I’ve been a part of the Polish national team for three years now, and it has led me to experience magnificent moments in volleyball, including the tough times of losing very important matches”, Pierzchala expresses.

\*\*2023 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship: Match Schedule and Results\*\*

Last year, in the U21 European Championship held in Italy, Pierzchala and her team fell to Türkiye in the bronze medal match. Now, in Leon, they lost to Serbia in the match that would have qualified Poland for the second round of the tournament and are now playing for positions 9th-16th.

“We must work emotionally to overcome defeats because they hurt a lot. Here in Leon, we pushed hard against Serbia and unfortunately couldn’t progress to the round that we were expecting to compete in. The game goes on, and we are motivated to fight for the ninth position, which is the highest we can achieve”.

Pierzchala explains that what she loves most about volleyball is blocking, and that is precisely what her position takes “I love stopping the other team, it’s the best thing in the world. I enjoy it and celebrate every time I score a blocking point”.

Volleyball wasn’t her first choice; during her school years, she was interested in basketball and played it for three years. “I wanted to play a sport, but basketball wasn’t the right fit for me. Thanks to my father’s advice, I switched sports and found my passion in volleyball”.

She concludes, “I couldn't play in the current European Senior Championship, but being part of the Polish team in a World Championship makes me very happy”.

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