Defending champions Poland defeated Germany 3-0 in the European Volleyball Championship quarter-finals to reach the semi-finals in Assago, Italy. The Polish squad secured their place in the final four with a convincing performance, closing out the match in three straight sets.
Poland claimed victory with set scores of 25-23, 25-17 and 25-17. The White-and-Reds will play their semi-final fixture on Friday, September 25, against the winner of the quarter-final between Belgium and Slovenia.
Set-by-set victory over Germany
The opening set proved evenly contested, though Poland held a slight advantage throughout most of the play before closing it out 25-23. The defending champions then dominated the second set, sweeping past their German opponents 25-17 to take a commanding two-set lead.
Germany mounted a strong start in the third set, taking an early four-point lead at 8-4. However, Poland began reducing the deficit midway through the set as star hitter Wilfredo Leon began to shine, driving the team to a 25-17 set victory to seal the 3-0 match sweep.
Poland had advanced to the quarter-finals following a straightforward victory against Latvia. Germany reached the last eight unexpectedly after edging out tournament co-hosts Bulgaria in a five-set battle ending 3-2.
Tournament schedule and semi-final matchups
The European Volleyball Championship features top national teams competing for the continental title. The remaining stages of this year's tournament are hosted in Italy, with semi-final matches played in Assago, a municipality in the Milan metropolitan area.
Poland's semi-final opponents will be decided on Wednesday, September 23, when Belgium face Slovenia at 16:00. The semi-final matches in Assago are scheduled for Friday, September 25, with start times set for 17:00 and 21:00.
France have also guaranteed their place in the semi-finals after defeating Romania 3-0. France will face the winner of the quarter-final between Italy and Finland. The tournament will conclude with the final on Saturday, September 26, in Milan, where the medals will be awarded.
