Polish middle blocker Bartlomiej Lemanski did not suffer a bone fracture in his ankle injury, head coach Nikola Grbic confirmed following medical tests on Saturday.
The 30-year-old was forced off during Poland's 3-2 victory on Friday evening at the Hubert Jerzy Wagner Memorial in Poland, raising concerns over his availability for the upcoming European Championship in September.
Grbic said that while the injury did not initially appear severe, receiving clear test results was crucial to rule out a fracture. He added that the player could return to training next week when the squad reassembles in Spala.
Ankle injury during Friday match
Lemanski injured his ankle midway through the first set when he landed on a teammate's foot while moving to block, with Poland trailing 7-5. Physiotherapists treated the 2.17-metre player on the court before he watched part of the match lying down.
He limped out of the hall during the second set but returned to the venue before the end of the five-set contest. Grbic admitted on Friday night that he did not want to think about losing Lemanski for the European Championship.
The middle blocker had made a successful return to the national team after a seven-year absence. With Jakub Kochanowski and Mateusz Bieniek sidelined by health issues and Norbert Huber taking a break from national team play, Lemanski earned a spot in the starting lineup.
Squad rotation and player fitness
Grbic confirmed that Lemanski will not feature in the remaining weekend matches of the Hubert Jerzy Wagner Memorial as a precaution. The head coach explained that avoiding major injuries before the season's primary tournament, which serves as the first opportunity to secure Olympic qualification, remains his top priority.
Poland's preparations continued on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over the United States. Grbic made extensive changes to the starting lineup, resting outside hitter Tomasz Fornal for the entire match in the reserves area.
Grbic noted that Fornal's knee is fine, but stated there was no need to risk him three days in a row as he is not yet at full fitness. Fornal had been in the starting six for all major matches this season.
Aleksander Sliwka and Jakub Majchrzak were handed starting roles against the Americans, while Wilfredo Leon showed significant improvement following a difficult performance on Friday. Grbic emphasized that adjusting to different opponent playing styles requires continuous tactical adaptations, promising further squad rotation for Sunday's fixture against France.
Opportunity for Kewin Sasak
Opposite hitter Kewin Sasak received extended playing time on Saturday as he continues his recovery from earlier health troubles during the club season. After a slow start against the United States, Sasak grew into the match and earned praise from the head coach.
Grbic described Saturday's performance as Sasak's best match of the season since joining the national team. The head coach acknowledged that while the squad lacks six months of joint preparation time, Sasak is expected to receive opportunities during the upcoming European Championship.
Poland will continue their preparations next week with a short training camp at the Olympic Preparation Centre in Spala. The team will then face Finland in a final friendly match before traveling to Sofia, Bulgaria, for the European Championship.
