Bulgarian international Asparuh Asparuhov started the new season in the Polish championship with 16 points, but his Slepsk Malow (Suwalki) lost at home to Jastrzębie Barkom 2:3 (23:25, 19:25, 25:22, 25:18, 10:15) in a match from the first round of the Tauron Liga. Asparuhov started as a starter and was the second highest-scoring volleyball player for the hosts. The Bulgarian outside hitter finished with 13 points from attack, two aces, and one block, recording a positive balance of +11. Only captain Bartosz Filipak scored more points for Slepsk – 20.
The hosts started slowly and lost the first two sets, although in the opening part they managed to catch up from a 16:21 deficit and equalize at 23:23. However, Jastrzębie Barkom won the next two rallies and took the lead.
The changes in the squad, undertaken by the new head coach Piotr Graban, yielded results in the third set. Slepsk stabilized its reception and gradually imposed a more effective attack game to reduce the deficit.
Asparuhov was among the main protagonists in the fourth set. The Bulgarian scored 6 of his 8 attacks, or 75% success rate, and made a significant contribution to equalizing the score to 2:2.
In the tie-break, however, the initiative shifted to the visitors. Wojciech Dudzik troubled Slepsk's reception with two aces, and at the change of courts, Jastrzębie Barkom was already leading 8:4. The hosts failed to regain their rhythm and lost 10:15.
The top scorer for the winners was Adam Lorenc with 24 points, followed by Lorenzo Pope and Bartosz Firšt with 19 each. The MVP was chosen as middle blocker Wojciech Dudzik, who finished with 11 points, including five aces.
After the dramatic match, Slepsk earned its first point of the season. On October 23, Asparuhov's team will again be at home, this time against GKS Katowice.

photo:suwalki24