She will be the new captain of the Polish national team. A surprising change
It became clear who will succeed Agnieszka Korneluk as captain of the Polish national volleyball team. This function will be held by Aleksandra Szczygłowska.
It must be admitted that Agnieszka Korneluk has performed very well as the captain of the Polish team in recent years. The center was one of the most experienced players in the national team. Additionally, the bar under the number, i.e. symbols of captain’s duties in volleyball, was also worn by setter Joanna Wołosz.
Aleksandra Szczygłowska is the new captain of the Polish women! The decision has just been made
However, Korneluk and Wołosz will no longer play in the Polish national team. The former ended her representative time after the Olympic tournament in Paris (2024). Coach Stefano Lavarini’s team then reached the quarterfinals of the event in France.
As for Korneluk, the matter is much more recent, because the center decided to end her club and national team career – but definitely – relatively recently. Signals appeared during the 2025/26 season, for example during an interview on WPROST, but the final announcement took place after the end of the volleyball competition.
So the question arose: Who will be the new captain? Initially, it seemed that the choice would fall on Magdalena Stysiak. Ultimately, however, as can be read on the official Volleyball World website, Aleksandra Szczygłowska took over the captaincy. Interestingly, after many years… the libero left the club, as announced by the country’s runner-up – KS DevelopRes Rzeszów.
Coach Lavarini also announced the squad for the upcoming Nations League. The Polish women will defend the VNL bronze medal won in both 2025 and 2024. It must be admitted, however, that many new faces appeared in the team.
Wide squad of Polish women for the Nations League
- Quarterbacks: Nadia Siuda, Alicja Grabka, Gabriela Makarowska-Kulej, Katarzyna Wenerska, Julia Bińczycka.
- Attackers: Julia Szczurowska, Magdalena Stysiak, Aleksandra Rasińska, Oliwia Sieradzka.
- Receiving: Natasza Ornoch, Julita Piasecka, Natalia Murek, Martyna Łukasik, Monika Lampkowska, Martyna Czyrniańska, Julia Orzoł, Weronika Szlagowska, Paulina Damaske.
- Middle: Marta Orzałowska, Anna Obijala, Sonia Stefanik, Rozalia Moszyńska, Natalia Kecher, Maja Koput, Natalia Dróżdż, Magdalena Jurczyk.
- Libero: Klaudia Łyduch, Aleksandra Szczygłowska, Justyna Łysiak, Karolina Pancewicz.
Polish volleyball players will start the VNL competition on June 3. During the first tournament in Nanjing, China, coach Lavarini’s team will face Belgium.
