Poland, Netherlands go 2-0 in Pool B to clinch FIVB Worlds playoff tickets

Poland and the Netherlands continued to stamp their class in Pool B as the squads both clinched back-to-back wins on Monday to seal their Round of 16 spots in the 2025 FIVB Men's Volleyball World Championship.

World No. 1 Poland picked up where it left off, sweeping Qatar with a convincing 25-21, 25-14, 25-19 victory, while the Netherlands pulled off a similar straight-sets win over Romania, 25-23, 26-24, 26-24.

Both teams improved to 2-0 in Pool B, securing spots in the playoffs with one match each remaining in the preliminaries.

It wasn't an easy win for either team, though, as Poland was forced to go the distance in Set 1 against the world no. 22 Qatar, which pulled to within one after Youssef Oughlaf unleashed a hammer, 19-20. 

The Qataris, however, committed four straight errors that allowed Poland to secure the set point at 24-19 as the 6-foot-7 middle blocker Norbert Huber sealed the opening set for Poland with his own kill. 

Poland returned to its deadly form in Set 2 despite team captain Bartosz Kurek not playing, racing to a commanding 18-8 cushion off a quick kill from Huber before Artur Szalpuk and Kamil Semeniuk took turns to close out the lopsided frame, 25-14. 

Poland, eager to atone for its runner-up finish in the 2022 World championship edition, didn't look back since then and dominated the rest of the way to secure another sweep victory. 

The Netherlands was also dealt a huge challenge by world No. 21 Romania, which pushed the Dutch to their limits and forced them into extended sets before finally yielding.

Rares Balean tied things up at 24-all in Set 2 but a service error from their side and a Michiel Ahyi kill saw the Dutch take the frame and a 2-0 lead. 

Romania replicated the same fighting spirit in Set 3 after forcing another 24-all deadlock, but a pair of errors from them proved costly as Netherlands completed the hard-fought sweep. 

Ahyi paced with 19 points anchored on 14 attacks and five aces while Tom Koops chipped in 13 markers. 

Poland and Netherlands now take on each other on Wednesday with the winner locking in the top spot in Pool B. 

—JMB, GMA Integrated News