Block 15-2! Poland defeated the Japanese women s volleyball team and won bronze for three consecutive years. Stishak scored 18 points. Corneluke blocked 8

Late at night on July 27, in the bronze medal match of the World Women's Volleyball League, the Polish women's volleyball team defeated the Japanese women's volleyball team 3-1, and stood on the podium for the third time in a row. This heavy bronze medal not only continued the stable performance of the Polish women's volleyball team on the international stage, but also because it was won in front of the audience at home of Rhodes, which was of great significance.

According to the ticket sales situation, more than 10,000 fans flocked to the venue in the game that day to cheer for their team. Faced with the loss of being swept by Italy the night before, the Polish women's volleyball team quickly adjusted their state and defeated Japan 25-15, 24-26, 25-16 and 25-23, ending the World League journey this season.

This victory not only won the bronze medal for Poland in this VNL, but also made them the sixth national team in history to win three medals in the first seven VNLs. Other teams include Brazil, Italy, the United States, Turkey and the Chinese women's volleyball team.

Under Lavarini's coach, Poland won three bronze medals for the third consecutive year (3-1 Japan in 2025, 3-2 Brazil in 2024, 3-2 United States in 2023). After the game, head coach Lavarini said excitedly: "It's great to win medals in Rhodes! I have been playing here every year since my first year of coaching the Polish team. The atmosphere of this city is always unparalleled. This time we can finally thank the fans with a medal, and I am very happy." In terms of overall data, although Poland and Japan are evenly matched in spiking (52-52) and serving (2-2), Poland completely crushed in blocking (15-2), and in terms of self-lossing, Poland made 24 points, and the Japanese women's volleyball team gave 30 goals.

In this game, the Polish women's volleyball team was in double digits, and the ace responded to Stishak performed well, scoring the highest 18 points in the game (39 dunks and 16 blocks). Captain and deputy attacker Corneluke also contributed 16 points (8 of 8 blocks in 13 deductions), of which 8 were blocking points, which was a nightmare for the Japanese women's volleyball team. Zirnienska scored 12 points (11 of 17 deductions), and Lukashik scored 11 points (10 of 32 deductions), showing a strong firepower distribution.

"We didn't play well in yesterday's game, which was a blow to us." libero Alexandra Schigwoska said after the game, "But today we are particularly focused and are happy to complete the reversal under this emotion. This victory belongs to our fans, and they make the game more exciting! We will celebrate well, but we also know that there is still a lot of work to be done in the future." In terms of the Japanese women's volleyball team, the deputy attacker Haruse Shimamura performed the best, contributing 15 points (24 deductions 13 for 2 blocks), and captain Masuguchi Ishikawa followed closely with 12 points (40 deductions 12 for 12), Sato Shuno (26 deductions 8 points), and Yukiko Wata scored 8 points (28 deductions 8 points).

With the end of the bronze medal, Poland and Japan's women's volleyball team will also enter a brief adjustment. Next, they will all prepare for the World Women's Volleyball Championship held in Thailand from August 22 to September 7. For Poland, this bronze medal is not only a continuation of honor, but also an important source of confidence in the World Championships. For the Japanese women's volleyball team, how to improve the performance of the blocking end will be a key issue to a higher podium.