Poland secured top spot in Group A of the Women's European Volleyball Championship by defeating host nation Turkey 3-2 in a five-set thriller in Istanbul.
The Polish team, coached by Stefano Lavarini, produced two very strong sets, two weak sets, and a dominant final tie-break performance in which they built an early 9-2 lead to seal the victory.
Opposite hitter Julia Szczurowska led all scorers in the match with 26 points. She recorded 23 points from attacks, one block, and two service aces after entering the game off the bench to make a decisive impact.
Turkey Pedigree and Venue Atmosphere
Turkey entered the fixture as one of the most successful teams in recent women's volleyball, having won this year's Nations League. The host nation also came into the tournament as defending European champions from three years ago.
Sport.pl journalist Jakub Balcerski highlighted the scale of Turkey's recent achievements ahead of the match. Despite facing an enthusiastic home crowd of nearly 16,000 spectators inside the arena in Istanbul, Poland fought back to win the five-set contest.
The European Championship is organized by the European Volleyball Confederation, the governing body for the sport across Europe. Italy's Stefano Lavarini has coached the Polish national team since 2022, leading the squad through major international tournaments.
Captain Magdalena Stysiak Reaction
Speaking to broadcaster Polsat Sport after the match, Polish captain Magdalena Stysiak praised her team's execution and noted that a lot went right on the court. She started to comment directly on the opponents before stopping herself, adding that the victory was a strong collective effort.
Stysiak said that advancing in first place was the most crucial result for Poland. She added that playing before the large Turkish crowd was a great experience and praised Lavarini for rotating the entire squad, proving that every player was ready to contribute.
Addressing Szczurowska's high scoring display, Stysiak congratulated her teammate for seizing her opportunity off the bench. Stysiak noted that because of Szczurowska's form, she played less than in previous matches, emphasizing that volleyball is a team sport where every member contributes.
Portugal Match in Next Round
Stysiak stated that the squad now gets a brief breather during a long tournament schedule, noting that the team remains in good condition as they prepare for the knockout stages.
Poland will next face Portugal in the round of 16. As winners of Group A, Poland take on the fourth-placed team from Group C for a spot in the quarter-finals.
