Poland vs Ukraine Quarterfinal Volleyball Battle | Men's VNL 2026

Good work by Ukraine. Can they get something going? The block is there and it hangs in the air a little longer than Ukraine would have liked. It's the ball for Tonkano that he needs to accelerate onto. He's waiting for the ball to get to him. Nekubyshek goes deep on his serve. Good connection through the middle. Stays alive with a one-hand touch. For now uses another one. Still no floor to be found. What a connection! See you next time! Jan Schultz. Solid serve. Huge through the middle. Lomanski gets his number called. It's a long ball for Komenda to play. Komenda, who's been setting a phenomenal VNL, goes for the defense as well. With a good hang time out of system swing for Leon. He's covered. He'll go again, harder, and that's the value of that recycle ball. Two recycle balls. Of his options, whether it be challenges or timeouts or subs. Oh, he doesn't need him. A serve for Lyon. A hundred and twenty. 124 kilometers an hour. It doesn't matter who you are. This is not reception. Poland from the backcourt. Getting dangerous. Great flow through the reception into the pipe attack for Wilfredo Leon. He has that touch on the ball. The hard-driven serve. Crane off the net. On another huge defense. Poland are... Good ball from Ukraine, back through the middle, and this time it's not coming up. Sinitsya chooses the aggressive option, moving Yuriy Semenyuk into the space. Yes, that is a great serve. But that is an even better solution from Yanchuk. He still has one in his pocket. That's a great serve. For now, make sure it stays in play. He has to roll it off the hands. Chance for Ukraine. Plotnitsky, take the first set, 25-22. Oh, pressure serve, but it's still Kacha from Bo. Getting me, Wilfredo Leon. Boiko had that sudden sinking feeling as that ball flipped it. Keep an eye on them, maybe changing it up. Doesn't matter though, an ace serve for Ukraine. There is Jancuk's first ace. There are a few players that love that, it's him. Poland sends this back. It's a good serve and a good opportunity for Ukraine to go outside, but it's denied by the Polish block. Commander finishes up with the block. Lefty swing. That catches the block off guard. It's enough for Ukraine. Plotnitsky's been able to work the ball. Poland making him sweat. That is such a good swing through the middle. I don't know. Kubiszak on the play close to the setter will hit that ball away to his right. When he runs the play away from the setter. Not the case on every team at the high level. Oh, nice little throw! That is beautifully done by Sinitsya. Komenda gets it right down the middle. Tupsi dug. That is beautifully handled, and that out-of-system play is why Poland are so good. Komenda has Poland now one point up. Another good defense off the block. Another good set. Poland doesn't have a swing on it. Chance for Ukraine to go again. That's nicely done, Plotnitsky finding an angle. And he steps in, serve for Poland. A moment of hesitation. Can he get two in a row? No. Much better, Ukraine now in a difficult spot. They have to force something. Fornal will send a set to Slivka, goes with two hands. This is magnificent volleyball. Another powerful serve. Poland under the pump. There's the defense. Chance Plotnitsky, but again he's in a phone. And monster blocked by Poland. The captain stands at the end line, targets Fornal. Lyon is denied. They have taken the second. Ball drops in. Leon making sure he takes it. Good coverage. Poland drawn himself to tip it with the overpass. And Leon cannot control it. Oh, wow. Popizak keeps that in play. Somehow, someway, Fornal can back his libero. Poland scrambled their way to this point. Ukraine back within one, tip from Leon, Tupce keeps it in play. Jancuk looks for the sideline and he gets it. Jancuk takes the hard cross-court angle. What Semenyuk, what a serve, overpass. Chance to go outside, the overload, Semenyuk with a little tickle over the net, tight thrown, back outside again off the hands of the block, some patience paying off, and a good coverage and again Ukraine. Somehow stays alive on Poland's side, and they will find the end line. Going after Leon in the reception. Oh, monster block for Ukraine. Shurov has to make a big move here. Jakubishek so often can... In it. Good serve. That is a much better connection, Jakubiszak. This time making sure of it. Angles change just a little bit with the ball coming off. He's up to 12 points. Oh, there's the connection and there's the block again. This time Komenda in the midst of it. For now, heat from the serve. Here comes Tupshy, but that is a Polish massive block. Great aggressive serve, keeping the ball pinned on the right side of the court for Ukraine. Big heavy serve. Poland up by three, make it two. Shurov, Sochitkov in this situation. Excellent take by Fornal. Oh, that is so good for Borlach. Excellent take. It's off the net. Ukraine go high and hard. That's kept in play. Oh, Poposzak under the net, but it's legal. How's the set from far from where? The net. The book of Poland right now is being read out to Ukraine and over and over. Poland are finding ways to score points. Phenomenal block technique from Bojan. One of the big reasons for the strength of this Polish side. Apple goes inside. Speaking of strength, setter's getting involved in the offense. Fantastic choice by Sinitsya. Kovalev clips the tape. Poland and Leon happy to make Ukraine pay for that one. Normally the pipe play is a timing play, and it is because the middles usually have to make a second move, but the space... That is not easy to do. Leon, MVP of many a thing in his career. Rear? Ukraine trying to muster up something. Court is there. And Mr. Reliable, Semenya, gets it done. Here comes Fornau. Powers that down the right side of the court. Hands are there for the taking. And Tukano will have them. Poland continue looking on Pambushko. Fornau pops it up. It stays in play. Free ball, Ukraine. This has to be taken advantage of. Tupshin to hands. Oh, miscommunication. Still a good set, though. Scramble play. Poland take a peek. And Puszko, incredible, but the block of Poland relentless. Second match point. Oh, Tukshin taking some risk. Poland to swing, and they have done it. Szabok off the outside, and he's out.