The women's national team, led by new coach Antonina Zetova, started with a loss in the friendly four-team tournament "President Koshalin Cup" in Poland, which includes the teams of the host country, France, and Sweden. In the opening match, which was also Zetova's unofficial debut, our team lost to Poland with a score of 1:3, despite a good start to the match.
Zetova started with Lora Kitipova, Mikaela Stoyanova, Iveta Stanchulova, Alexandra Milanova, Nasya Dimitrova, Hristina Vuchkova, and libero Galina Karabasheva.
Set 1: The Bulgarians dictate the game
The start was even, but the Bulgarians demonstrated more stable play. After a series of inaccuracies from the Polish players, including a mistake by Centka-Thietietniec, our girls took the lead. Dimitrova's strong attack and Stanchulova and Vuchkova's excellent play turned the match in our favor. The Bulgarians controlled the tempo and deservedly took the set with a score of 25:18.
Set 2: Polish response
The Polish players took an early lead and maintained a high tempo, not allowing the Bulgarians to get back into the game. Despite Merelin Nikolova's attempts to energize the team, individual errors and the hosts' block left no chance. The set was lost with a score of 13:25.
Set 3: Overcoming and falling
Poland once again started aggressively, with Korneliuk and Czyrniańska excelling in attack and block. Dimitrova tried to restore balance, but despite her efforts, our team lost control. Errors in play and stable Polish defense led to a score of 18:25.
Set 4: Last push, but without success
The Bulgarians showed a desire to turn the match around, with Stanchulova being the driving force at the beginning. Unfortunately, a series of inaccuracies and stable play by Nowicka and Czyrniańska for Poland did not allow us to get back into the match. The set ended with the same score – 18:25.
Poland – Bulgaria 3:1
(18:25, 25:13, 25:18, 25:18)
Poland: Korneliuk (13), Piasecka (8), Czyrniańska (21), Smażek (11), Centka-Tetejaniec (8), Grabka (2), Szczygłowska (libero) and Lisiak, Nowicka, Stysiak (6), Perchała (4)
Bulgaria: Stanchulova (13), Dimitrova (13), Kitipova (2), Vuchkova (9), Milanova (7), Stoyanova (5), Karabasheva (libero) and Slavcheva, Krivoshiyska, Ivanova, Nikolova (6)
