Here are the best in PlusLiga at the halfway point. Tomasz Fornal deserved the MVP award?

Jastrzębski Węgiel, PGE Projekt Warszawa and Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie. This is what the podium looks like after 15 rounds of the PlusLiga regular phase. Compared to the finish line of the previous season, the top three actually only changed places. The champions from Jastrzębie-Zdrój remain unchanged, on the top step of the podium. Only the Warsaw team changed places with the Zawiercie team in terms of medals for the past campaign.

Plus, it is worth adding that the champions and bronze medalists (read: PGE Projekt) accumulated exactly the same amount, 13 victories and two defeats each. The difference of five points in JW’s favor is the result of four, although five-set, wins by the Warsaw team. Jastrzębie played five sets once, losing to the revelation of the season – Steam Hemarpol Norwid Częstochowa.

PlusLiga: Here are the best volleyball players at the halfway point of the regular season!

As usual, we reserve that the selection of the “best” ones will probably not appeal to everyone. However, this is a subjective matter and your own observations. For our part, we tried several configurations, none of them were perfect enough, so the overall result was a mixture in which everyone should find someone who really stood out. While appreciating the work and results of individual clubs.

Although, as is usually the case, it is not possible to accommodate everyone.

Attacker: Patrik Indra (Steam Hemarpol Norwid Częstochowa)

Norwid found a wooden one and will leave a brick one? This will probably remain to be seen, but the left-handed attacker can already be described as one of the best transfer shots of recent years in PlusLiga. The director/player of the Częstochowa club, Łukasz Zygadło, knew well what he was doing when he took the Czech out of the French league. Indra earned not only a new contract in Częstochowa, but also recognition for his sports class. With all due respect to the rest of PlusLiga’s attackers, at this stage of the season it is difficult to find someone more “decisive” about the fate of their team.

Host: Tomasz Fornal (Jastrzębski Węgiel)

One may get the impression that, for a long time, it has been hosting Polish champions and Champions League finalists and is playing in its own league. Fornal is a character who can take the team on his back when it is having a bad day, but also shine in a match in which a lot is being achieved on both sides of the net. And these are two values ​​that cannot be overestimated. Two service aces at the end of the last match against the Polish runners-up, on their home turf, were an eloquent picture. Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie is not used to losing 0:3 as the host. However, Fornal, closing the third set, decided otherwise.

Receiver: Igor Grobelny (ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle)

One of the biggest positive surprises of the season. He came to ZAKSA from PGE Projekt, where he was not a player who played the first violin. Most often, on a task-oriented basis, or in the absence of the main receivers, Grobelny did his job in Warsaw. However, a change of scenery turned out to be a good choice. Four MVP statuettes of Andrea Giani’s team’s matches for Grobelny are no coincidence. A lot has been said and written about Rafał Szymur, and it turns out that his colleague in the new version of the club from Kędzierzyn-Koźle is equally important, if not more important.

Center: Norbert Huber (Jastrzębski Węgiel)

The best in the block, equally active on the X platform – in both cases heated emotions. Huber is a great blocking midfielder who also provides a lot in the offensive, somewhat covered by his collection of impressive “caps”. As for the mentioned social media platform, an inscrutable mystery is the club in which the midfielder of the national champions and the Polish national team will play from the new season. Regardless of whether it is Rzeszów, Warsaw, or a foreign destination, Huber is an extremely colorful character, needed in the team. This volleyball player has achieved such a strong, undisputed position in the PlusLiga hierarchy because of what he is and his sporting class.

Middle: Jakub Kochanowski (PGE Projekt Warszawa)

In the case of this position in our list, we would end up with the Warsaw major anyway. Ultimately, however, “Kochan” and not Andrzej Wrona, appreciating the class of the PGE Projekt captain. Ultimately, it has done its job, is doing it and will continue to do it – the former’s move. Kochanowski moved to Warsaw and traditionally does what he is supposed to do. He is one of those central players who, for example with the above-mentioned serve, can decide the fate of the match. All I can do is wish Kochanowski good health, because if it’s on his side, we’re talking about a fantastic, multi-dimensional volleyball player.

Playmaker: Marcin Komenda (Bogdanka LUK Lublin)

The captain and game director of the team, which initially gained momentum that probably surprised even… Lublin itself. However, Komenda is a man who – as he himself mentioned in an interview with “Wprost” last season – was in the right place at the right time. It seems that Bogdanka LUK has a player who can be thought of more and more boldly in the context of the Polish national team, not only as the “third”. However, looking at PlusLiga, the second rebound in Lublin has a lot of quality. What’s even more important, it allows you to introduce virtually all attack zones into the game almost immediately. And even if the reception was not necessarily good.

Libero: Luke Perry (Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie)

If he leaves PlusLiga, it will be a big loss for the competition. At times you may get the impression that the ball is actually looking for the libero of coach Michał Winiarski’s team. Huge support in important moments, a man who can cover a lot of the field, but also doesn’t limit himself to reception, providing protection so that the only thing missing is an attack to complete the game. Although there is nothing to hide, if certain transfer rumors are actually confirmed, Zawiercie has an equally great successor for the next campaign. But there will probably be time to come back to this on another occasion.

PlusLiga: List of substitutes recognized at the halfway point

Attacker: Mateusz Rećko (ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle)

Replacing Bartosz Kurek seems difficult in theory, let alone in practice. However, when ZAKSA’s captain suffered a serious injury, Rećko did not break. What’s more, the PlusLiga debutant took on the burden of scoring points. Of course, he had supportive, more experienced colleagues next to him. However, the MVP of the previous season at the back of PlusLiga proved that he deserved a place in ZAKSA’s ranks. And his pre-season choice, i.e. leaving Będzin for Kędzierzyn-Koźle, was absolutely right.

Host: Milad Ebadipour (Steam Hemarpol Norwid Częstochowa)

Captain, general, commander. It’s hard to imagine a better return to PlusLiga than the one proposed by the Iranian. Known mainly for his time playing for Skra Bełchatów, Ebadipour set about promoting solid volleyball in Częstochowa. It turned out that Norwid – with an organized party – could rub the noses of not only his peers, but also the best. Ebadipour had a huge part in this. Even when Indra collects more statuettes and experts admire Quinn Isaacson’s play, the Iranian regularly lays the foundations for the result on the pitch.

Host: Wilfredo Leon (Bogdanka LUK Lublin)

Next to Fornal and Kurek, the biggest name in PlusLiga. Or maybe number 1, considering the interest in his presence both in Lublin, but also during the “Tour de Leon” throughout Poland. He is not only a great figure and a magnet for a group photo or autograph, but also a volleyball player who provides a lot of sports quality. It also turned out that Karol Butryn had found a worthy rival in the competition for the title of the best player in PlusLiga. But seriously, Leon may be the element that will allow Bogdanka LUK to even reach the top four at the end of the competition. Of course, provided that he remains healthy.

Center: Szymon Jakubiszak (Indykpol AZS Olsztyn)

The inhabitants of Olsztyn experienced different moments this season. However, Jakubiszak is a force of peace and solidity. Looking at the statistics, even Indykpol AZS, which initially played so mediocrely, had in its ranks the second best blocker in PlusLiga. Moustapha M’Baye is going through a similar story at Trefl Gdańsk. Already under the direction of coach Marcin Mierzejewski, it seems that the team from Olsztyn can benefit even more from Jakubiszak’s services. Especially since the pursuit of making the play-offs has begun in earnest.

Center: Sebastian Adamczyk (Steam Hemarpol Norwid Częstochowa)

A beneficiary of the above-mentioned Isaacson’s method of playing. It is no coincidence that even Nikola Grbic drew attention to Adamczyk not so long ago. Norwid’s center took advantage of his opportunity in Częstochowa and is able to add important points to the achievements of the tournament. Daniel Popiela can be satisfied, just like Adamczyk. For Norwid, these two are certainly players who are not in the first statistical row, but are overall important in the operation of the entire mechanism.

Playmaker: Marcin Janusz (ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle)

The Olympic vice-champion took over the role of team captain in Kurek’s absence, arranging ZAKSA’s game together with coach Giani. Which was not that easy, bearing in mind how terrible the team was in the 2023/24 season. What the player himself certainly remembers very well. However, Janusz is a key piece of the puzzle, both in Kędzierzyn-Koźle and the Polish national team. ZAKSA can rely on its quarterback, which he showed not only in matches in which the team was obliged to win, but also, for example, in the match won against the giant – 3:1 against Jastrzębski Węgiel. Janusz is simply expected to perform, but one can get the impression that after the crisis of the previous season, this player has come to life again. With another important caveat – as long as he doesn’t lose his health.

Libero: Mateusz Czunkiewicz (Ślepsk Malow Suwałki)

Ninth place at the halfway point, positive win-loss record. Ślepsk Malow Suwałki has no reason to complain, on the contrary. It seems that apart from the obvious offensive contribution of Bartosz Filipiak, a large part of the praise should go to the libero. Czunkiewicz is having one of the best, if not the best, seasons during his time in PlusLiga. A very reliable point, who took an enormous number of 328 balls in 15 matches this season. However, this did not prevent the volleyball player from being among the best receivers in the entire PlusLiga. Additionally, Czunkiewicz has a lot of good energy on the pitch, which is certainly a priceless value for the well-organized team of coach Dominek Kwapisiewicz.