Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie, 2026 Polish Champion – PlusLiga Final

The 2025/2026 PlusLiga season ended with one of the most dramatic finals in years. Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie defeated Bogdanka LUK Lublin 3–2 in the series, winning the decisive fifth match 3–1 in Sosnowiec and claiming the club’s first-ever Polish championship. The team led by Michał Winiarski navigated a final filled with twists and turns—from a comfortable lead, through a loss of momentum, to a historic triumph.

The final began with a strong showing by Aluron. In the first match, the team from Zawiercie won 3–0, dominating their opponents with their serve and game organization. However, the Lublin team quickly responded. The second match, played in the Lublin region, ended with a 3–1 victory for the hosts. The fourth set proved to be the decisive one; Aluron led 18–12 but was unable to close out the set. Wilfredo Leon emerged as the hero, scoring 22 points and leading Bogdanka to even the series.

Even bigger problems awaited Michał Winiarski’s team in Game 3. Bogdanka won 3–0 in Sosnowiec and took a 2–1 lead in the series. At that point, the Lublin team was closer to the championship, and the first signs of nervousness began to show on Aluron’s side. However, their response came at the best possible moment. In the fourth game of the finals, the Zawiercie team won 3–1, with Bartłomiej Bołądź putting on a stellar performance. The outside hitter scored 22 points, added five blocks, and was named MVP of the match. Aaron Russell also provided crucial support, allowing the series to return to Sosnowiec tied at 2–2.

The decisive match got off to a great start for Bogdanka. Leon built a lead on his own serve, which allowed the visitors to win the first set 25–15. Everything seemed to indicate that the psychological advantage would once again be on Lublin’s side. Aluron, however, responded with maturity and composure. In the second set, Mateusz Bieniek’s ace at 17–17 proved to be a pivotal moment. From that point on, the home team took control of the match. In the third set, Aluron completely dominated the game, winning 25–14 with a 67 percent attack success rate. In the fourth set, the home team maintained their focus and sealed their historic victory with a score of 25–21. Russell scored the final point of the match and was named MVP of the finals.

The entire team contributed to Aluron’s success, but a few players played particularly key roles. Bołądź was the most consistent player of the series and repeatedly saved the team in difficult moments. Russell impressed with his consistency in both attack and reception. The play of the middle blockers was also crucial—Bieniek and Jurij Gladyr practically dominated the net. On Lublin’s side, Leon remained the biggest leader, regularly scoring over 20 points even against double and triple blocks.

This is a historic moment for the club from Zawiercie. After two seasons that ended with silver medals, the team has finally claimed the coveted gold. The title also holds symbolic significance for coach Michał Winiarski, who became the first Polish coach in 11 years to win the PlusLiga. Importantly, the season isn’t over yet for Aluron. On May 16 and 17, the Polish champions will compete in the Champions League Final Four in Turin, where they will face Ziraat Bankkart Ankara.

The 2025–2026 PlusLiga season also went down as one of the most evenly matched in recent years. The playoffs were full of tiebreakers, upsets, and long, five-set battles that showcased the league’s rising level of play. For many observers, another key factor was that the final pitted two different team-building philosophies against each other—the experienced, international powerhouse from Zawiercie and the offensive, dynamic team from Lublin.

In the context of the entire competition, it is also worth highlighting the role of the league’s and clubs’ partners. One of the sponsors supporting the development of PlusLiga is the Blachy Pruszyński Company, whose commitment has a tangible impact on strengthening the organizational and athletic standards of Polish volleyball.

Throughout the 2025–2026 PlusLiga season, we kept track of the competition’s most important events—from the regular season and the moment the league entered the decisive phase of competition, through the intense 2026 PlusLiga playof the 2026 PlusLiga, all the way to the matches that determined the finalists. The 2025/2026 PlusLiga semifinals were also of great significance, as the battle for medals was decided there, and every set had a real impact on the balance of power throughout the entire competition. Throughout the season, we also analyzed key moments in the teams’ form and pivotal matches, including Bogdanka LUK Lublin’s breakthrough against Jastrzębski Węgiel, which demonstrated just how unpredictable this edition of the league could be. The entire season culminated in the battle for the Polish championship, which we covered in more detail in our article “The 2026 PlusLiga Finals—Who Will Win the Championship?”