Vladimir Garkov and Saint-Nazaire with 13th loss in France
Vladimir Garkov and Saint-Nazaire recorded their 13th loss of the season, this time as guests against the last-placed team, Ajaccio, who prevailed after a dramatic tie-break. The match ended: Ajaccio – Saint-Nazaire 3:2 (25:22, 19:25, 25:20, 24:26, 19:17) in two hours and seven minutes of play. The visitors managed to equalize after the hosts took a 2:1 lead, and in the fourth set, Saint-Nazaire showed character and forced the match into a decisive fifth set. However, Garkov's team missed an excellent opportunity to leave with the win after the tie-break went into extended play. A key factor in the final set proved to be the block, which tipped the scales in favor of Ajaccio and brought the Corsicans valuable two points.
Verona swept Perugia and will meet Trento in the Italian Cup final
Perugia will once again not play in the Italian Cup final. Deja vu in Bologna – just like a year ago, the "Block Devils" stumbled in the semi-final against Verona. Then the team was led by Radostin Stoychev, and now by Fabio Soli. Slovenia's head coach led "Rana" to a historic success with3:0 (25:19, 25:21, 25:19)- a second final for the trophy for the team from the city of Romeo and Juliet, and set up a match against his former team, Trentino, which he coached last season. For the European and World Club Champion, the "consolation" remained that they eliminated last year's cup holder, Lube Civitanova, in the 1/4 final.
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Dea snatched a dramatic victory against Pirin after a tie-break, Nakov shone with 38 points
Deya made a partial comeback and after trailing by1:2 sets, managed to snatch the victory in the tie-break against the Bulgarian Cup finalistPirinwith3:2 (20:25, 25:20, 19:25, 25:22, 16:14). The guests might regret it, as in the decisive part they managed to force the match to extra points, but the hosts endured and with better concentration won two crucial points for the standings. Pirin led by 2:1 sets and seemed closer to victory, but Deya showed character in the most important moments, especially in the tie-break, where the hosts remained calm in the decisive rallies. This happened despite the phenomenal play of Pirin's opposite hitter Marian Nakov, who played one of his strongest matches of the season and finished with a colossal 38 points (+28), 4 aces, 2 blocks, and an impressive 62% attack efficiency. Support came from Kyosev with 14 points and Gadzhanov with 12, while Kamenov remained more modest with 9.
Trento is the first finalist for the Italian Cup after a tie-break against Piacenza
Itas Trentino became the first team to secure a place in the Del Monte Coppa Italia 2026 final after winning a dramatic semi-final 3:2 (25:21, 16:25, 23:25, 25:22, 15:11) against Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza. The success is even more impressive, as the Trento team was without its star Alessandro Michieletto, and Daniele Lavia made only a brief appearance, recording his first minutes in an official match after more than half a year off the court. The hosts started strong and took the first set, but Piacenza responded with aggressive serving and solid blocking, turning the score to 1:2. The visitors even took the lead after a hotly contested third set. Trento, however, showed character and managed to equalize after a tense fourth set, sending the semi-final into a tie-break.
Lokomotiv Novosibirsk once again defeated champions Zenit Kazan after a five-set thriller at home
Lokomotiv Novosibirsk once again proved capable of breaking the Russian champion Zenit Kazan. Plamen Konstantinov's team snatched a thrilling victory with3:2 (19:25, 28:26, 22:25, 25:23, 15:13)in front of their home crowd in a match that featured a nightmarish start, an incredible revival in the second set, a series of video challenges, and a tie-break decided by serve and nerves in the final points.Before the match, Dima Lyzik and Moni Nikolov were honored, having been named to Russia's symbolic team of the first half of the season. Lokomotiv failed to adapt to the aggressive serving and blocking of the visitors. Zenit pulled ahead early with 1:6, maintained a distance throughout the set, and the lead reached 8:15. The hosts couldn't find their rhythm, and the set went to the champion – 19:25.
Sam Deroo and Dobriana Rabadzhieva will be parents to a baby girl
Belgian volleyball star Sam Deroo and his partner – former Bulgarian national player Dobriana Rabadzhieva, are expecting the birth of their first child. Something we have already announced. The news is that the couple will become parents to a baby girl, and the happy news received new light after an Instagram post, which talks about the "birth of a daughter" as one of the biggest events Deroo looks forward to with a smile and hope. "Onward to the playoffs with Loko Volleyball, to the birth of a daughter, to the summer with the Belgian Red Dragons and... to LA2028," reads the message from a Belgian journalist who visited the volleyball player.
Final Four for the Italian Cup in Bologna: predictions and program for the semifinals
Everything is ready for the big Final Four weekend of the Italian Cup (Coppa Italia) in SuperLega, which will take place at the Unipol Arena in Bologna. Four teams will take to the taraflex in Emilia to pursue the highest step on the podium, but only one will lift the trophy. Colleagues from the Italian specialized websiteVolleyNews.itpublished their predictions and analyses for the two semifinals, with expectations of extremely close matches and potential five-set battles. Trento reaches the semifinals despite serious personnel problems. Injuries and doubts surrounding Michieletto, Lavia's long absence, and the latest difficulties concerning Giannelli shake the team's stability.
Italian volleyball stars participated in lighting the Olympic flame at "San Siro"
Stars of Italian volleyball were among the central figures during the solemn lighting of the Olympic flame at San Siro stadium in Milan – a key moment of the ceremony related to the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Among the main participants in the ritual were world champions Anna Danesi, Paola Egonu, Carlotta Cambi, Simone Giannelli, Simone Anzani, and Luca Porro, who made volleyball one of the symbols of the evening. A particularly touching moment occurred when the Olympic flame was passed from two legends of Italian football – Giuseppe Bergomi and Franco Baresi – to the six national volleyball players. Olympic and world champions Egonu and Cambi were the first to take the torch, after which it passed to Giannelli, Porro, and Anzani. The entire scene unfolded to the sounds of the famous aria "Nessun dorma", which gave additional emotional power to the moment and highlighted the significance of volleyball in contemporary Italian sport.
New Miss Bulgaria for volleyweek.bg: "Young people should invest in education and prove that several things can go hand in hand."
Pernek has rarely seen such an unusual plot after a women's volleyball match.
Daniel Peev for volleyweek.bg after his election as national coach: "The goal is for the team to win and play good volleyball for its age."
The new head coach of the Bulgarian men's national U22 team, Daniel Peev, takes over from Ventsislav Simeonov.
Alex Nikolov for Volleyweek: "Today I don't feel euphoria - tomorrow we play the match of our lives."
To be honest, I can't gather my thoughts...
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Bulgaria's program for the VNL tournament in Chicago has become clear
Bulgaria's schedule for the third week of the preliminary phase of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2026 has been officially announced. Our national team will be part of the extremely strong tournament in the Chicago area, which will take place between July 15 and 19, 2026, at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. USA Volleyball is hosting the event, and some of the world's most elite teams will participate in the tournament – Poland, Brazil, France, USA, Bulgaria, and China.
France found out who they will play against at the home VNL 2026 tournament in Orleans
The French men's national volleyball team has officially learned its schedule for the home tournament of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) in 2026. The matches will take place in Orléans betweenJune 24 and 28, with the city being one of the main stops in the second week of the regular phase of the prestigious competition. The French Volleyball Federation announced that tickets for the tournament are now on sale, and "Les Bleus" will face four strong opponents in front of their home crowd 6.
Boyan Yordanov became a father of a baby girl
Bulgarian volleyball legend Boyan Yordanov became a father, learnedvolleyweek.bg. The joyful event caught the renowned opposite hitter preparing for a match being played today, but despite this, the former national team player managed to see his newborn daughter. Yordanov is currently a player for the Greek team ARIS, which is visiting Panerythraikos today at 6:00 PM.
Nikolay Nikolov returns to the Bulgarian championship
Former national middle blocker Nikolay Nikolov will play in the Bulgarian championship again. After nearly a year away from official matches, the 39-year-old volleyball player returns to his home country, this time with the CSKA team. The information was confirmed by sources from the "red" club and the NVL.
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Bulgaria's program for the VNL tournament in Chicago has become clear
Bulgaria's schedule for the third week of the preliminary phase of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2026 has been officially announced. Our national team will be part of the extremely strong tournament in the Chicago area, which will take place between July 15 and 19, 2026, at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. USA Volleyball is hosting the event, and some of the world's most elite teams will participate in the tournament – Poland, Brazil, France, USA, Bulgaria, and China. Bulgaria, currently ranked No. 9 in the world and a silver medalist from the 2025 World Championship, will have three days of key clashes against absolute favorites.
Moni Nikolov in Russia: cold, travel and the lessons of the Super League
In a candid conversation on the "Fanat Voleybola" YouTube channel, the Bulgarian setter talks about his first months in Russia, life at Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, and the differences between the Super League and European championships.Simeon (Moni) Nikolov's first months in Novosibirsk proved to be a serious test – both in terms of everyday life and professionally. The Siberian cold, long journeys, and the specifics of the Russian Super League are an entirely new reality for the young Bulgarian setter, but he accepts all this as part of his path upwards. Nikolov admits that even before arriving, he knew it wouldn't be easy for him. The Russian Super League is extremely tough for players – due to the vast distances, frequent travel, and busy schedule. Nevertheless, he defines it as a very good first professional league for himself and is convinced that it will become easier for him over time, especially after the first season.
"World-class apology": Nishida hit a girl with a serve in a show, and his reaction went viral
Sometimes the most memorable moment in volleyball isn't the point, but what happens after it. Or in this case – after a serve that doesn't go where it's supposed to at all. Japanese star Yuji Nishida became the main character in an amusing and instructive video that is now circulating on social media after being published by Volleyball World on platform X. Volleyball World presented the situation with a sense of humor, but also with a clear message that the standard of behavior is rising: The situation unfolded during the All-Star Games, as part of a show competition clearly designed for entertainment and audience engagement.