Bulgarian champion Maritsa (Plovdiv) continues to rely on talents developed in its own academy. The club officially announced that young setter Vyara Ivanova will be part of the women's team for the 2026/2027 season.
Born on May 14, 2009, in Plovdiv, the athlete is taking the next big step in her development, having progressed through all age groups of the "yellow-blues." Ivanova has been an integral part of Maritsa's academy for nine years, developing as a setter from her very first steps in volleyball.
In her rich collection of accolades with the Plovdiv team, the young national player already has championship titles in U16 and U18, a silver medal in U18, as well as bronze medals with the U14, U16, and U20 teams.
In addition to team successes, Ivanova also impresses with her individual achievements. She has twice been selected as the best setter at the final tournaments in various age groups, and in the 2022/2023 season, she also won the award for the best server.
Although she is only 17 years old, Vyara already has valuable experience in women's volleyball. For the past two seasons, she has defended the colors of Maritsa 2022 (Plovdiv) in the National Volleyball League Demax, where she has gradually gained playing experience against established athletes.
The setter is also an integral part of Bulgaria's national teams. This year, she became a Balkan champion with the national team, and at the European Championship, the Bulgarian team finished in seventh place.
In the new season, Ivanova will wear number 10 for Maritsa's first team. The young volleyball player has the opportunity to debut at the highest club level, being part of the champions' squad in the Champions League, the National Volleyball League Demax, and the Bulgarian Cup.
With the inclusion of Vyara Ivanova in the representative team, Maritsa once again demonstrates its consistent policy of developing and promoting its own talent, turning its academy into a primary source of talent for the first team. For the young setter, this is the logical continuation of her long journey with the club and a chance to showcase her qualities at the highest level of Bulgarian women's volleyball.