Bulgarian champion Maritsa (Plovdiv) started convincingly its participation in the qualifications for the group stage of the Women's Champions League. The team from Plovdiv defeated the champion of Montenegro, Herceg Novi, with a 3:0 (25:13, 25:23, 25:20) victory as guests in the "Igalo" hall.
Maritsa's main weapon proved to be the block, from which the Bulgarian team scored an impressive 16 points against only 2 for the hosts.
The Plovdiv team asserted their superiority from the start and won the first set with a decisive 25:13. The only serious difficulties came in the second part, when Herceg Novi led 14:8. However, the Bulgarian champion managed to erase the six-point deficit and turn the score to 25:23.
In the third set, Maritsa again controlled the game and finished the match after 25:20.
New signing Ana Pejčić was the top scorer for Maritsa with 13 points, including 4 blocks. Aleksandra Kitipova added 11 points, Elena Becheva finished with 9, and Boryana Angelova and Kaya Nikolova scored 8 each. Setter Margarita Guncheva also contributed to the success with 6 points.
Six players from the Bulgarian champion finished with at least 6 points, which shows the good distribution of attacks and variety in offense.
Statistics:
| Indicator | Maritsa | Herceg Novi |
|---|---|---|
| Attack points | 34 | 29 |
| Block points | 16 | 2 |
| Aces | 5 | 5 |
| Positive reception | 37% | 28% |
| Excellent reception | 22% | 17% |
The data from the statistical protocol show that the most significant difference between the two teams is in blocking. Maritsa also has an advantage in reception, while in direct points from service, the two teams are equal. The difference in attack points is only five, which further emphasizes the importance of blocking for the final result. The return leg is on October 28 at 18:30 in the "Kolodruma" hall in Plovdiv. After the 3:0 victory, the Bulgarian champion needs only two won sets to advance to the third qualifying round. If they qualify, Maritsa will face the winner of the pair Turan (Tovuz, Azerbaijan) – Mladost (Zagreb, Croatia). The winner of the third qualifying round will secure a spot in the group stage of the Champions League. Before the return leg, the Plovdiv team also has a commitment in the Bulgarian championship. On October 23 at 18:00, they will face their city rivals Maritsa 2022 in a match from the Demax+ Super League.
