KATOWICE. The Bulgarian national volleyball team recorded an impressive second victory at the friendly tournament "Silesia Cup" in Poland. The team, led by Gianlorenzo Blengini, showed character and turned around Serbia from 0:2 to 3:2 (24:26, 21:25, 25:20, 25:19, 15:12) in "Spodek" Hall in Katowice.
With this success, the "Lions" took the lead in the tournament standings and gave a strong signal that the team has depth, character, and reserves in its squad.
Bulgaria started hesitantly and allowed Serbia to take the first two sets after a more stable performance in crucial moments. However, after the inclusion of Denislav Bardarov, Dimitar Dimitrov, Boris Nachev, and Lyuboslav Telkiyski, the "tricolors'" game changed noticeably.
The third set was the turning point. Bulgaria stabilized its reception, played more aggressively in attack, and reduced the deficit. In the fourth set, Blengini's team was already dictating the rhythm, and in the tie-break, the "Lions" showed composure after trailing 6:9 and reached the final score of 15:12 after a block by Martin Atanasov.
| Indicator | Bulgaria | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| Attack points | 71 | 53 |
| Attack efficiency | 53% | 41% |
| Blocks | 12 | 12 |
| Aces | 2 | 3 |
| Positive reception | 55% | 52% |
| Service errors | 24 | 16 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 25 | 34 |
| Total points scored | 110 | 102 |
The statistics clearly show where Bulgaria won the match — in attack. The "Lions" scored 71 attack points against 53 for Serbia and had significantly higher efficiency — 53% against 41%. Despite the equality in blocks and more service errors, the Bulgarian team compensated with a better finishing phase and more stable reception.
| Player | Points | Plus/Minus | Reception | Attack | Blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denislav Bardarov | 21 | +12 | 41% positive | 62% | 1 |
| Martin Atanasov | 18 | +9 | 60% positive, 45% perfect | 48% | 4 |
| Dimitar Dimitrov | 13 | – | – | – | – |
| Iliya Petkov | 12 | – | – | – | – |
| Venislav Antov | 10 | – | – | – | – |
Denislav Bardarov was the main factor for the comeback. He finished with 21 points, a +12 efficiency rating, and an impressive 62% in attack.
.jpeg&w=1920&q=75)
Martin Atanasov also played a key role – 18 points, 4 blocks, and very important stability in reception. These two figures gave new energy to Bulgaria after falling behind 0-2.
.jpeg&w=1920&q=75)
The top scorer for Serbia was Žarko Ubiparip with 16 points.
The victory is valuable not only as a result but also as a sign of the team's resilience. Bulgaria not only came back into the match but turned it around against a traditionally strong opponent, after finding the right rhythm, improving offensive organization, and showing character in decisive moments.
Tomorrow, Gianlorenzo Blengini's boys play for first place against host Poland, who are playing against Ukraine tonight.
Photos: Nikolay Varadinov
