Bulgarian volleyball player Kaloyan Balabanov and his Sungurlu suffered their third consecutive loss since the start of the Turkish Efeler League. The elite newcomer lost at home to Galatasaray with a score of 1:3 (24:26, 19:25, 25:19, 21:25) in a third-round match that lasted 153 minutes.
Balabanov appeared as a substitute in the third set and started as a starter in the fourth. The Bulgarian outside hitter finished with 5 points - three from attack and two from block. He scored three of his 12 attacks (25%) and achieved 44% positive reception.
The hosts were close to winning the first set, but Galatasaray snatched the contested part with 26:24. The visitors solidified their advantage in the second set with 25:19, before Sungurlu reduced their deficit after 25:19 in the third. In the fourth set, Galatasaray again imposed their will and finished the match with 25:21.

The most effective player for the winners was Canadian international Stephen Maar with 21 points. The outside hitter made 18 successful attacks from 33 attempts (55%), two aces, and one block.

Following him was one of the great hopes of Turkish volleyball, Efe Mandıracı, with 14 points, of which 13 were from attack and one block. Gökçen Yüksel added 13 points.
For Sungurlu, the most effective player was Norwegian outside hitter Oskar Alve Espeland with 18 points, including 17 from attack. American opposite Kyle Ensing finished with 14.
Galatasaray had a serious advantage in attack, scoring 68 points against 42 for the hosts. Sungurlu, however, won more points on block - 10 against 7, with four of them being made by middle blocker Ahmet Kaan Karacıl.
After the first three rounds, Kaloyan Balabanov's team is without a point, with three losses and a set difference of 2:9. In the first round, Sungurlu lost to Istanbul BB with 1:3, and in the second, they lost their away match to Gebze with 0:3.
The next challenge for Balabanov and his teammates is on October 31, when they visit Spor Toto in Ankara.

photos:galatasarayand facebook