Tomasz Fornal’s decisive serving run, Nikola Grbic’s bold use of Wilfredo Leon at opposite and a dominant tie-break carried Poland to a third VNL crown in Ningbo.
Poland defended the Men’s Volleyball Nations League title after surviving a dramatic five-set final against USA in Ningbo. The defending champions recovered from 1-2 down to win 25-21, 23-25, 25-27, 25-23 and 15-10, lifting the VNL trophy for the third time after their previous titles in 2023 and 2025.
USA came within five points of their first VNL gold when they led 20-19 in the fourth set. Poland answered with greater composure, a crucial serving turn from Tomasz Fornal and an unusual tactical solution that placed Wilfredo Leon at opposite. The Americans were left with a fourth silver medal from four VNL finals, while Fornal completed the night by being named the tournament MVP.
Match Details
| Match | USA vs Poland |
| Result | USA 2-3 Poland |
| Set scores | 21-25, 25-23, 27-25, 23-25, 10-15 |
| Stage | Men’s VNL 2026 final |
| Date | 2 August 2026 |
| Venue | Ningbo Beilun Sports and Arts Centre, Ningbo Beilun, China |
| Match time | 19:30-22:01 local time |
| Duration | 2 hours 31 minutes total; 2 hours 8 minutes of playing time |
| Spectators | 5,865 |
Poland Find the First Opening
The final began evenly, with USA producing the first small advantages at 4-2 and 6-4. Poland stayed within one rotation and changed the direction of the set after USA led 9-8. A Polish side-out restored parity, and the next point on serve moved the defending champions in front.
Poland gradually took control and built a 17-14 advantage. Leon was the central figure, scoring seven points in the opening set with five kills and two aces. USA’s reception numbers were not dramatically worse, but Poland were much more productive when rallies had to be finished: they led 16-11 in points scored through attack, block and serve and closed the set 25-21.
USA Level the Final as Semeniuk Enters the Story
Poland started the second set better and led 5-3, but USA quickly reversed the score to 7-6. The contest remained balanced until the Americans moved from 14-13 to 17-13 through a side-out and several points on their own serve.
That run prompted Nikola Grbic to replace Leon with Kamil Semeniuk. The substitution did not immediately win the set, but it changed the shape of the match. Semeniuk stayed on court, Poland recovered to 16-17 and later turned a 17-20 deficit into a 21-20 lead.
USA responded with the stronger finish. They levelled the score, moved ahead 23-21 and took the set 25-23. Their attack was the decisive element: USA recorded 19 attack points to Poland’s 11, with Jake Hanes scoring six and the middle combination of Taylor Averill and Merrick McHenry adding eight points.
USA Survive a 15-19 Deficit and an Accidental Injury
Semeniuk remained in Poland’s starting lineup for the third set, while Leon began on the bench. Neither team could create meaningful separation until Poland led 16-15. A USA service error restored the Polish side-out, and Leon then entered as a serving substitute. On his turn at the line, Poland won two consecutive break points and moved ahead 19-15.
The set appeared to be moving towards Poland, but USA slowly reduced the deficit and reached 22-22. Hanes was exceptional, converting all nine of his attacking attempts in the set. That perfect attacking return gave the Americans the foundation for their comeback despite seven service errors.
The closing phase then produced the most unexpected scene of the final. After a successful McHenry block, the Americans celebrated emotionally. McHenry’s arm accidentally caught Matt Anderson above the eye, opening a cut and forcing the outside hitter off the court. T.J. DeFalco entered for his first appearance of the final.
The sudden change did not break USA’s concentration. Averill delivered the final two American points, and the hosts won the extended set 27-25 to move one victory away from their first VNL title.
Boladz Loses Influence as Poland Search for Another Solution
While Semeniuk’s role grew, Bartosz Boladz found it increasingly difficult to finish attacks. He produced three kills from six swings in the second set, then only two from seven in the third, with one attempt blocked. Poland still had multiple scoring options, but the loss of efficiency from the opposite position became an important tactical problem before the fourth set.
Grbic Moves Leon to Opposite
Poland again started the fourth set without Leon. They applied pressure for most of the period but could not create a lead larger than two points. At 11-10, Grbic made the boldest adjustment of the match: Boladz left the court, Leon entered in his place and began operating as the opposite, while Semeniuk and Tomasz Fornal remained together at outside hitter.
The formation allowed Poland to keep three elite wing attackers on court while protecting the reception structure with Semeniuk and Fornal. Leon scored only two points in the fourth set, but the change removed the struggling opposite and gave Poland a different attacking geometry for the decisive phase.
USA still had the clearest chance to finish the match. Anderson returned after treatment and scored six points in the set. When the Americans moved ahead 20-19, they stood only five points from their first Nations League gold.
Fornal’s Hidden Weapon Fires at the Perfect Moment
After Poland’s semifinal victory over Slovenia, we noted that Fornal still had another level available from the service line. That hidden weapon appeared when Poland needed it most.
At 20-20 in the fourth set, Fornal went to the service line. His first serve forced a reception error from Ethan Champlin, and the next produced another passing error, this time from Micah Christenson. In two rallies, Poland moved from a level score to a 22-20 advantage. Fornal then served out, but the damage had already been done.
USA later recovered to 23-23, yet Poland executed the final two rallies with championship-level clarity. Szymon Jakubiszak scored a first-tempo attack for set point, and Leon immediately closed the set with a block for 25-23. Poland had survived the moment when USA appeared closest to the trophy.
Leon Starts the Tie-Break at Opposite
Grbic kept the new structure for the fifth set. Leon started at opposite, Semeniuk and Fornal remained on the left side, and Boladz did not return. The tie-break stayed level through 6-6, but from that point Poland became the calmer and more precise team.
Five consecutive points on Marcin Komenda’s serve turned 8-7 into 13-7. USA made more attacking errors, Poland controlled the net, and the defending champions no longer allowed the match to return to a side-out battle. Leon scored four points in the tie-break, while Jakubiszak added four.
Leon produced a block-out attack for championship point at 14-9. Hanes then hit wide on the final rally, giving Poland the set 15-10 and completing the comeback from 1-2 down.
How Poland Won Despite Losing the Attack Battle
| Category | USA | Poland |
|---|---|---|
| Attack points | 65 | 59 |
| Block points | 8 | 12 |
| Aces | 4 | 8 |
| Points from opponent errors | 29 | 34 |
| Total points | 106 | 113 |
| Block plus serve points | 12 | 20 |
USA actually won the attack battle 65-59. Poland compensated in every other major scoring area: they led 12-8 in blocks, 8-4 in aces and received five more points from American errors. The eight-point advantage from block and serve was exactly the type of margin that mattered in a five-set final.
Poland also distributed the scoring more evenly. Six players reached double figures, which allowed the team to survive the decline in Boladz’s efficiency and the changing role of Leon. USA relied more heavily on Hanes, Anderson and an outstanding performance from McHenry.
Top Scorers
| Player | Team | Points | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Hanes | USA | 21 | 18 attack, 3 aces |
| Matt Anderson | USA | 20 | 18 attack, 1 block, 1 ace |
| Kamil Semeniuk | Poland | 17 | 13 attack, 3 blocks, 1 ace |
| Tomasz Fornal | Poland | 15 | 10 attack, 5 aces |
| Wilfredo Leon | Poland | 15 | 10 attack, 3 blocks, 2 aces |
| Merrick McHenry | USA | 14 | 11 attack, 3 blocks |
| Bartlomiej Lemanski | Poland | 11 | 7 attack, 4 blocks |
| Szymon Jakubiszak | Poland | 11 | 9 attack, 2 blocks |
| Bartosz Boladz | Poland | 10 | 10 attack |
Fornal Named VNL 2026 MVP
Fornal finished the final with 15 points, but his influence cannot be reduced to the total. Five of his points came directly from the service line, including the two-serves sequence that changed the fourth-set finish when the title appeared to be moving towards USA.
After the match, the Polish outside hitter was named the Men’s VNL 2026 Most Valuable Player. The award gave the final an especially fitting conclusion: the player described before the match as Poland’s unused serving weapon became the player who delivered the most important serving turn of the tournament.
A Third Polish Title, Another American Silver
Poland have now won the Men’s VNL three times: 2023, 2025 and 2026. The successful title defence also extended their extraordinary medal record in the competition.
USA again came extremely close but remain without VNL gold. Their four appearances in the final have produced four silver medals. In Ningbo, they were ahead 2-1 and led 20-19 in the fourth set, but Poland won the highest-pressure rallies and once again denied them the title.
Quick Summary
- Poland defeated USA 3-2 to defend the Men’s VNL title and win their third gold medal.
- Set scores: 25-21, 23-25, 25-27, 25-23 and 15-10 from Poland’s perspective.
- USA led 2-1 in sets and moved ahead 20-19 in the fourth set, coming within five points of their first VNL title.
- Nikola Grbic replaced the struggling Boladz and used Leon at opposite from the middle of the fourth set through the tie-break.
- Fornal produced two decisive serves at 20-20 in the fourth set and finished with five aces.
- Fornal was named the Men’s VNL 2026 MVP.
- USA led 65-59 in attack, but Poland won the block 12-8 and the ace count 8-4.
- Hanes scored 21 points, Anderson 20, Semeniuk 17, while Fornal and Leon added 15 each.
FAQ
Who won the Men’s VNL 2026 final?
Poland defeated USA 3-2 in Ningbo and successfully defended the title.
What were the set scores?
Poland won 25-21, 23-25, 25-27, 25-23 and 15-10.
How many VNL titles have Poland won?
Poland have won three Men’s VNL titles: 2023, 2025 and 2026.
Who was named the VNL 2026 MVP?
Poland outside hitter Tomasz Fornal was named the tournament MVP.
What was the key tactical change?
Nikola Grbic moved Wilfredo Leon to opposite in the fourth set after replacing Bartosz Boladz, while Kamil Semeniuk and Tomasz Fornal remained at outside hitter.
What decided the fourth set?
Fornal created two consecutive reception errors on serve at 20-20, helping Poland move ahead 22-20 before they eventually won 25-23.
Why did USA lose despite scoring more attack points?
USA led 65-59 in attack, but Poland had four more blocks, four more aces and gained five more points from opponent errors.
Has USA ever won the Men’s VNL?
No. The 2026 defeat left USA with four silver medals from four appearances in the VNL final.
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