Captain - Michal Kubiak
Michal Kubiak began playing volleyball after his father Jaroslaw introduced him to the sport. His brother has played volleyball at club level in Norway and his father has coached the sport at club level in Poland. Nicknamed Misiek, Kubiak is a father to daughter Pola.
The outside hitter made his debut for Poland in the 2011 World League in Brazil, in which Poland placed third. He had previously won a gold medal at the 2004 U18 European Beach Volleyball Championships, and a silver medal at that year's U18 World Beach Volleyball Championships. Kubiak was selected as the 2010 Rookie of the Year at the Volleyball Pros in Poland. He had surgery on his right hand after breaking two fingers in May 2014, but was in the team that won gold at the World Championships that year. He was named as Second Best Outside Hitter in the 2015 World League. Poland finished fourth in the tournament.
Star Player - Pawel Zatorski
Pawel Zatorski will be looking to carry on his rich form here in Japan. He was named Best Libero at the 2015 World League, although he was denied a medal when his team lost 3-0 to United States in the bronze medal match of the Group 1 Final Four. His individual brilliance could not be diminished, though, as he averaged 2.18 digs per set throughout the competition.
He was also part of the Poland team that shocked the volleyball world when they defeated Brazil in the final of the 2014 World Championship in front of a jubilant Polish crowd. For this achievement he was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit by the Polish President.
He began playing volleyball in Poland, initially starting the sport because a heel injury meant he could not play football so he went to watch his brother’s volleyball training. The coach invited him to play, and he liked the sport. Having played for the junior national teams, he made his senior debut against Brazil in the 2009 World League. He would go on to win bronze at the World League and European Championship in 2011, and gold in the 2012 World League.
