VC Dunav continues to build its squad for WINBET Supervolley, announcing that outside hitter Hristo Kostov and libero Atanas Mitev will remain with the Ruse team.
For Hristo Kostov, this will be his sixth consecutive season with the 'dragons' team. The outside hitter was among the key figures in the historic promotion from the Higher League, and now he will have the opportunity to prove himself at the highest level of Bulgarian volleyball.
Atanas Mitev's role in the new campaign will be interesting. In addition to being registered as a libero, he also joins head coach Krasimir Mironov's staff. Mitev will be responsible for the team's physical conditioning and will be one of the assistant coaches.
With the last two confirmations, Dunav is increasingly outlining the backbone of its squad. Captain Angel Pavlov will begin his 18th season in the blue jersey and is getting closer to the impressive milestone of 400 matches for a single club. Also remaining with the team are middle blocker Lyubcho Yankov, who will play his third consecutive season in Ruse, and Simeon Dobrev, who returned after a season with Neftochimic 2010, with whom he won the Bulgarian Cup.
Among the new additions, the 18-year-old Latvian national setter Markus Vensbergs, who arrived from Estonian champion Pärnu, attracted the most interest. Also joining the Ruse team are 21-year-old opposite Aleksandar Shopov, who comes from French C'Chartres Volley, and 18-year-old setter Viktor Marinov from Stoychev-Kazijski Volleyball Academy.
The club continues to rely on its own academy. The only 16-year-old middle blocker Kan Dobrudzhan will also be part of the men's squad in the new season, having earned the trust of Krasimir Mironov.
Meanwhile, Dunav parted ways with setter Konstantin Nechev, who officially transferred to Neftochimic 2010. The Ruse club thanked the playmaker for his professionalism and contribution to the team.
With each subsequent name announced, it becomes clearer that the ambition of the Ruse team is not just participation in the elite, but the building of a competitive and promising squad, combining experienced volleyball players with some of the most talented young players in Bulgaria and abroad.