The Bulgarian women's national volleyball team departed to participate in the European Championship. The national team members flew to Vienna, from where they will continue to the Czech city of Brno, where they will play their group stage matches.
Bulgaria is in a group with host Czech Republic, Ukraine, Austria, Serbia, and Greece, with the top four teams in the final standings advancing to the knockout stage.
Head coach Marcello Abbondanza defined advancing from the group as the first and most important goal for the young Bulgarian squad. The Italian specialist is pleased with the atmosphere in the team, even though the team has little experience at such a level.
"I think we haven't had a better atmosphere so far. Our team is young. Only two players have participated in a European Championship. I will be happy if we manage to pass the group stage," Abbondanza stated before departure.
Opposite hitter Mikaela Stoyanova also pointed to qualifying for the next phase as Bulgaria's main task. According to her, the strengths in the group are relatively balanced, although there are opponents who, at this stage, have more experience and class. The national team player believes that the team's performance will depend primarily on its own play.
Stoyanova also reflected on the difficult performance in the Nations League and the elimination from the tournament. According to her, the disappointment did not lower the team's spirit, but on the contrary – it gave additional motivation to the players to show a better face at the European Championship and subsequently to fight for a return to the Nations League.
"First and foremost, it is to get out of the groups, to perform in the best possible way, to show better play than in the Nations League. That's it, we are chasing the first goal, and that is to get out of the groups," Stoyanova said.
The opposite hitter also emphasized teamwork, stressing that individual performances remain secondary and that the contribution of the entire squad will be necessary for achieving good results.
Bulgaria begins its participation in EuroVolley against Ukraine on Friday at 6:00 PM Bulgarian time. This match is shaping up to be extremely important for the national team's ambitions to secure a place among the top four in the group.
Two days later, Bulgaria will face Greece at 6:00 PM. On August 24, at 9:00 PM, the match against Serbia is scheduled, and on August 26, at 6:00 PM, the national team will meet Austria. The last group stage match is against host Czech Republic on August 27, at 9:00 PM.
The top four teams in the group advance, and for Marcello Abbondanza's young team, the task is clear – overcoming the group stage and securing a place in the knockout rounds of the European Championship.
As we reported on August 13, Bulgaria is heading to Brno with a final squad of 14 volleyball players. Head coach Marcello Abbondanza will rely on two setters, two opposite hitters, four outside hitters, four middle blockers, and two liberos.
Bulgaria's squad for EuroVolley 2026:
Setters:Lora Slavcheva, Margarita Guncheva
Opposite Hitters:Iva Dudova, Mikaela Stoyanova
Outside Hitters:Tsvetelina Ilieva, Aleksandra Milanova, Monika Krasteva, Emileta Racheva
Middle Blockers:Maria Krivoshiyska, Elena Kolarova, Boryana Angelova, Kaya Nikolova
Libero:Zhana Todorova, Mila Pashkuleva.
photos: Nikolay Varadinov
