Klaudia Lyduch made an unexpected senior debut for the Poland women's national volleyball team on Friday, arriving in Istanbul straight from a flight to help her team defeat tournament hosts Turkey 3-2 at the European Volleyball Championship.
Head coach Stefano Lavarini called up the 22-year-old player as an emergency medical replacement for injured team captain Aleksandra Szczyglowska. Poland won the match 15:25, 25:21, 25:22, 16:25, 15:10 to secure first place in Group A.
The Polish Volleyball Federation announced on Thursday that Lyduch had joined the squad in Turkey to assist with training, before officially registering her in the matchday roster on Friday. Szczyglowska had been unable to play in previous matches in Istanbul due to health issues and confirmed in a federation statement that she remains under medical supervision while working to return as quickly as possible.
Emergency call-up to Istanbul
Lyduch, who plays as a libero for Polish club UNI Opole, received the late night call from Lavarini and team manager Szymon Szlendak between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Wednesday. She agreed to join the team immediately and arrived in Turkey within 24 hours.
Although she had previously featured only for Polish youth selections and was listed as a libero, Lavarini used Lyduch in a tactical role as an outside hitter during the match. She took part in the pre-match national anthem before coming off the bench to assist on the court.
Lyduch said her main anxiety occurred during the initial phone call and her travel to Istanbul. She noted that seeing her teammates at breakfast on Friday morning reassured her and calmed her nerves before the match.
Group A victory and round of 16
Poland overcame a tough challenge from the host nation to seal the five-set win. Lyduch highlighted key defensive plays by teammate Julita Piasecka in zone six and scoring contributions from substitute Paulina Damaske, which helped Poland overcome Turkey's strong blocking system.
The victory ensures Poland finish at the top of Group A in the tournament. Lavarini's team will next play against Portugal in the round of 16 on August 31 at 7:00 p.m. Polish time.
