Kamil Semeniuk and Poland in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) at Mall of Asia Arena. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Poland swept Canada, 25-21, 25-23, 27-25, to win its third game in the Manila leg of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Despite not being at the pinnacle of the VNL’s standing at 2-8, the Canadians still took the fight to the Polish, and the team surely took notice.
“We knew before the game that we were the favorites. We knew that we had the better players but they played very good volleyball without any pressure,” Lukasz Kaczmarek said on Saturday.
“They were pushing a lot, That’s why the game was difficult but we won 3-0 so we’re happy.”
Poland already looked like the clean victor when they dominated the first two sets for the pivotal advantage but the Canadians showed their never-say-die attitude in the third frame.
After trying the game at 22, Canada took advantage of a Wilfredo Leon Venero service error to stay alive and take the lead, 23-22.
Poland’s Kamil Semeniuk in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) at Mall of Asia Arena. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
The Polish were still able to the driver’s seat to take match point, 24-23, but Arthur Szwarc converted on a kill to extend the match.
Brodie Hofer scored on a successful kill to take the 25-24 slim lead before Poland shut the door on the world’s No. 17-ranked team capped off by a Kamil Semeniuk point for the Polish.
Poland, which improved to 9-2 in the VNL ladder, relied on the duo of Semeniuk and Norbert Huber with 11 points, each.
Samuel Cooper, on the other hand, finished with 19 markers in a losing effort for the Canadians. Szwarc also had a stellar game with 16 markers but it was all for naught.