Polish Volleyball Phenom Jakub Nowak Captivates Experts and Fans Alike
Poland has discovered a rising star in the world of volleyball: 20-year-old central player Jakub Nowak. Experts and supporters are hailing him as the biggest breakthrough and a key asset for the Polish national team at the start of the representative season.
A recent performance against Brazil further cemented Nowak’s burgeoning reputation. Despite not being in the starting lineup, he made a significant impact when called upon, finishing the match with 12 points – an impressive seven of which were blocks.
The impact of Nowak’s play even visibly moved Serbian coach Nikola Grbić. During a critical moment in the fourth set, with the score at 16-15 in favor of Brazil, Nowak successfully blocked a powerful attack from Darlan. “But block!” exclaimed commentator Tomasz Swędrowski of Polsat Sport, as Grbić immediately approached the young player with a congratulatory smile.
The visible joy on Grbić’s face – often described as stoic – sparked a wave of reactions online. Sara Kalisz of TVP Sport remarked, “Everyone should find someone who looks at him like Nikola Grbić at Jakub Nowak.”
The volleyball world is taking notice. An industry profile on X (formerly Twitter) noted that Nowak has yet to compete in Poland’s top league, having been discovered in lower-tier games, but delivered an “unforgettable performance” against Brazil. VolleyAct added, “This boy is just 20 years old!”
Nowak will be competing in the PlusLiga with the team from Częstochowa in the upcoming season. Analysts predict he will be a cornerstone of the Polish national team’s blocking strength for years to come. One observer noted the potential future of the Polish team: “Kochanowski, Huber, Nowak. What will it be for a decade?”
Increasingly, discussion is turning to Nowak’s impact not just on the future, but on the present of the Polish national team. With the World Championships in the Philippines approaching, the 20-year-old is determined to secure his place on the roster.
According to Jakub Balcerzak, a leading voice on Polish volleyball on X, “Jakub Nowak already has it. Such entries are working on a narrow team for the world championship tournament.”
Seweryn Czernek echoed this sentiment, stating, “I will doubt Nikola Grbić if Jakub Nowak does not go to the world championships! The boy without complexes approaches matches with every rival, and he blocks the great Brazil like the old man and adds his attack.”
Despite a loss to Brazil, which cost Poland the top spot in the League of Nations standings, experts believe Grbić has reason to be optimistic. The emergence of Nowak is seen as a significant positive. As coach and expert Jakub Bednaruk summarized, “A great tournament. A lot of situations about which the coach, preparing the team dreams.”
