Another youth champion joins Maritsa's first team
Bulgarian champion Maritsa (Plovdiv) continues to promote players developed in its own academy. For the 2026/27 season, 17-year-old outside hitter Katerina Popova officially joins the women's team, taking the next step in her development after years in the club's academy.
Born on March 2, 2009, the volleyball player has been part of Maritsa for eight years, progressing through all age groups of the club – from pre-cadets to the senior team. During this period, she established herself as one of the most promising players in her position.
Popova has a rich track record at the youth level. She is a Bulgarian champion with Maritsa's U16, U18, and U20 teams, has also won silver and bronze medals in various age groups, and in the 2025/26 season, she was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the U18 girls' final tournament.
The young outside hitter has already gained valuable experience in women's volleyball, having defended the colors of Maritsa 2022 in the National Volleyball League Demax for the past two seasons.
She is also part of Bulgaria's national teams. With the U18 national team, she won the Balkan Championship title and finished sixth at the European Championship.
In the new season, Katerina Popova will wear jersey number 11 and will be part of Maritsa's squad in the Champions League, the National Volleyball League Demax, and the Bulgarian Cup tournament.
By bringing another of its own youth champions into the first team, the Plovdiv club once again reaffirms its policy of developing and promoting players who have grown up in its academy.