World No. 1 Poland wasted no time asserting its dominance, sweeping Turkey in straight sets, 25-15, 25-22, 25-19, to punch its ticket to the Final Four of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship, Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The defending VNL champions needed just 69 minutes to dispatch the No. 14-ranked Turks and set up a high-stakes semifinal clash with World No. 2 and reigning world champion Italy — a rematch of the 2022 World Championship final in Poland.
Poland remained unbeaten in five games, trailing only once in the entire match, 0-1 in the second set. The team showcased a clinical, methodical performance that reinforced its bid for world supremacy.
Super spiker Wilfredo Leon led the way with 13 points, finishing with nine kills, three blocks, and an ace.
Middle blocker and 2025 VNL MVP Jakub Kochanowski added 12 points, while team captain Bartosz Kurek chipped in 10.
Kamil Semeniuk and Norbert Huber contributed nine points each, and setter Marcin Komenda orchestrated the offense with 27 excellent sets.
“I’m happy for this win. Not every day you can win 3-0, especially against Turkey, which has been playing very well, so I’m happy that we are moving to the next step. We came here for it, and we’re ready for the next game [against Italy],” Leon said.
The Polish star missed the 2022 edition at home, making this a personal and professional milestone.
Turkey’s lone bright spot was Adis Lagumdzija, who scored in double digits.
The Turks finished in the Top 8, improving on their 11th-place finish in 2022 after sweeping Pool G and taking down the Netherlands in the Round of 16.
Italy, meanwhile, kept its own semifinal hopes alive by brushing aside Belgium, 25-13, 25-18, 25-18. That leaves a tantalizing Final Four featuring Poland, Italy, and the winners of Thursday’s quarterfinals: USA vs. Bulgaria and Czechia vs. Iran.
Poland now looks to avenge its 2022 final loss and inch closer to adding another prestigious title to its trophy cabinet.
