August 2, 2026.- The United States earned the silver medal at the 2026 Men’s Volleyball Nations League Final, its first VNL medal since 2023, after a 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-27, 25-23, 15-10) loss to Poland on Sunday in Ningbo Beilun, China. The gold medal was the second in a row for Poland.
The U.S. finished with a 65-59 advantage in kills, while Poland recorded more blocks (12-8) and service aces (8-4).
Opposite Jake Hanes led all players with 21 points on 18 kills and a team-high three aces. Outside hitter Matt Anderson finished with 20 points on 18 kills, a block and an ace, while also leading the team with six successful receptions. Middle blocker Merrick McHenry put together his best offensive performance of VNL play with 11 kills and just one error in 17 total attacks, adding three blocks for 14 points.
Outside hitter Ethan Champlin scored nine points on eight kills, and middle Taylor Averill produced eight kills. Setter Micah Christenson scored three points on two blocks and an ace. Libero Erik Shoji led the U.S. with eight digs.
The first half of the first set was quite even, but in the second, Poland gradually took control of the scoreboard. Poland’s outside hitter Wilfredo Leon shined with two aces and five kills in attack towards the final 25-21 that came on a long attack by his counterpart Cooper Robinson.
After a very competitive first half of the second set, the Americans managed to break away with a 17-13 lead, but the Poles quickly caught up and even stepped in front with a 21-20 lead. With some strong serving from opposite Jake Hanes, USA reacted with three in a row. Hanes himself brought in set point with a successful swing for 24-22. Tomasz Fornal, who otherwise played a great set, errored on the serve to hand it to the opponents at 25-23.
Hanes was at an immaculate 100% success rate in attack during the third set, but Poland were in the lead for most of the set. However, after 23-22, the Americans finally flipped the score to reach set point at 24-23. The set was pushed to overtime. USA’s middle blocker Taylor Averill delivered the third set point for his team with a powerful kill for 26-25 and converted it himself with another one for 27-25.
The fierce battle continued into set four. Poland maintained a slight advantage for most of the set, but the gap never exceeded two points. In the money time, the Americans leveled it up at 23-23 with two points in a row, but a successful first-tempo spike by middle Szymon Jakubiszak put Poland at set point, immediately converted to a 25-23 close with a monster block by Leon.
The tie-breaker was competitive only through 6-6. Five points in a row on setter Marcin Komenda’s turn to serve gave the defending champions a wide 13-7 lead. A block-out swing by Leon, who started the fifth set in the opposite position, brought in championship point at 14-9 and the match finished on a hit by Hanes that went wide for 15-10.
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