Abbondanza gives Dimana Ivanova a chance for the decisive battles in the Nations League

The head coach of the Bulgarian women's national team, Marcello Abbondanza, has announced the squad for the third and final tournament of the Volleyball Nations League, which will be held in Belgrade. The most interesting news is the inclusion of young setter Dimana Ivanova, who has established herself as one of the great hopes of Bulgarian volleyball over the past two years. The Bulgarian team will depart for the Serbian capital by flight on Monday afternoon, where they will begin their preparation for the decisive matches.
Ivanova earned a spot in the national team after her impressive performances in the youth categories. She was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) at both the European and World Championships in her age group, where Bulgaria triumphed with the titles. The setter also has experience with the senior women's team, having been part of the national squad for the 2025 World Championship.
The national team faces four extremely important matches in the Serbian capital. Bulgaria starts against host Serbia on July 8 at 21:00, followed by matches against Czechia on July 10 at 17:30, France on July 11 at 17:30, and Germany on July 12 at 17:30.
The main task for Marcello Abbondanza's team is to retain their spot in the Nations League. After the first two tournaments, Bulgaria has two wins and occupies 16th place in the provisional standings, ahead of the Dominican Republic and France.
Compared to the second tournament, Dimana Ivanova and Monika Krasteva are included in Bulgaria's squad, while Margarita Guncheva and Tsvetelina Ilieva are out.
Bulgaria's squad for the tournament in Belgrade:

Setters: