Sosnowiec.The Bulgarian national volleyball team started the season with a prestigious and dramatic 3:1 (25:21, 27:29, 25:23, 25:22) victory over Ukraine in their first match of the "Silesia Cup" tournament. The match lasted 2 hours and 3 minutes and offered numerous turnarounds, strong serving runs, and excellent contributions from head coach Gianlorenzo Blengini's bench.
The national team started somewhat hesitantly but gradually found their rhythm through aggressive serving and solid blocking. An ace by Zhasmin Velichkov gave them their first lead at 9:8, and Preslav Petkov and Iliya Petkov helped the advantage grow to 22:18. Velichkov himself scored the last point for the win in the first set with 25:21.
The second set started better for Ukraine, who took a 7:3 lead. However, Bulgaria came back into the score through stable performances by Asparuh Asparuhov and Dimitar Dimitrov. Towards the end, Venislav Antov contributed excellently with attacks and a single block, but after a disputed situation at 27:27, the Ukrainians snatched the set with 29:27.
The third set was marked by Denislav Bardarov. The receiver was a key figure in offense, scored an ace for 24:22, and after an excellent pipe attack, Bulgaria closed the set at 25:23.
In the fourth set, Ukraine pulled ahead 12:6 after two consecutive aces by Dmytro Yanchuk, but the Bulgarian team showed character. The block worked excellently, and Denislav Bardarov equalized for 14:14. In the final rallies, Venislav Antov made key blocks and added two aces, before Bardarov brought the last point for 25:22 and the final 3:1.
| Player | Points | Plus/Minus | Aces | Blocks | Positive Reception | Attack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denislav Bardarov | 14 | +9 | 1 | 1 | 35% | 52% |
| Zhasmin Velichkov | 13 | +7 | 1 | 1 | 48% | 55% |
| Venislav Antov | 12 | - | 2 | 2 | - | - |
| Iliya Petkov | 10 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Preslav Petkov | 8 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Asparuh Asparuhov | 8 | - | - | - | - | - |
Bulgaria distributed the points very well among its main attackers, and the substitutions of reserves at key moments proved crucial. Denislav Bardarov was the most consistent player in attack during decisive moments, while Zhasmin Velichkov provided stability both in serving and receiving.
| Team Statistics | Bulgaria | Ukraine |
|---|---|---|
| Points from Attack | 54 | 53 |
| Attack Efficiency | 53% | 46% |
| Blocks | 12 | 7 |
| Aces | 8 | 9 |
| Service Errors | 15 | 21 |
| Positive Reception | 41% | 45% |
| Points from Opponent Errors | 28 | 26 |
| Total Points | 102 | 95 |
The statistics clearly show Bulgaria's superiority in blocking and and higher attack efficiency. Although the Ukrainians recorded more aces and slightly better positive reception, the Bulgarian team compensated with fewer service errors and significantly better play at the net. It was precisely the 12 blocks and higher attack percentage that proved decisive for the final success. The most effective player in the match was the Ukrainian opposite Maxim Tonkonog with 19 points.
photo: Nikolay Varadinov
