Bulgarian champion Maritsa (Plovdiv) suffered a heavy home defeat to Azerbaijani Turan Tovuz with 0:3 (22:25, 22:25, 20:25) in the first match of the third and final qualifying round for the group stage of the Women's Champions League. In front of 950 spectators in the "Kolodruma" hall, the Plovdiv team failed to win a single set against the ambitious opponent, founded only in 2025, but boasting a selection of experienced foreign volleyball players.
The team led by Kristiyan Iliev offered resistance in certain periods, but conceded in crucial moments in all three sets. Turan, led by Ziya Rajabov, demonstrated greater effectiveness in attack and superiority in blocking.
The first set started evenly, with Maritsa leading 8:7 at the first technical timeout. However, the visitors turned it around to 16:12, and subsequently maintained their lead, closing the set at 25:22.
In the second set, Turan again took the initiative. The Azerbaijani champion led 16:13 and 21:18, before achieving another success with 25:22.
The third set followed a similar scenario. The visitors took an 8:5 lead, increased their advantage to 16:13 and 21:18, and finished the match at 25:20.
The most effective player for Maritsa was Aleksandra Kitipova with 20 points, including 3 aces and 1 block. Elena Becheva added 15 points, and Ana Peichich finished with 9.
For the winners, Chinese international Yang Hanyu scored 15 points, including 4 blocks. Elizaveta Ruban and South Korean Lee Jae-yeong contributed 13 points each.
The difference in attack efficiency is particularly indicative. Maritsa scored 44 points from 114 attacks (39%), while Turan achieved 47 points from 98 attempts (48%). The visitors also had an advantage in blocks – 6 against 5, while the Bulgarian champion was more effective from serve – 6 aces against 2.
This defeat puts Maritsa in an extremely difficult position ahead of the return leg, in which the Plovdiv team will have to seek a 3:0 or 3:1 victory to reach a decisive "golden set".
Turan's star selection lived up to expectations.
Before the clash, the Azerbaijani champion attracted attention with its unusual history. Founded in 2025, the club won the title in its debut season, after which it undertook a large-scale selection with 11 new additions.
Among the recruited players are former Cuban internationals Kenia Carcaces, Wilma Salas and Ana Yilian Cleger, South Korean twins Lee Jae-yeong and Lee Da-yeong, as well as Chinese international Yang Hanyu.
Interestingly, some of the most famous names were not even needed by Turan for the victory in Plovdiv. Carcaces and Salas did not participate in the match, while Lee Jae-yeong was among the top scorers.
Among the key figures again was Elizaveta Ruban, who in the 2024/25 season played alongside Bulgarian Monika Krasteva in Romanian Alba Blaj. Ruban was named MVP in the victory over Mladost Zagreb in the previous qualifying round, and now again made an important contribution to the victory.
The return leg is on November 10.
The second match between the two teams is scheduled for November 10 at 4:00 PM Bulgarian time in the "Tovuz Olympic Hall" in Azerbaijan. If Maritsa wins 3:0 or 3:1, a "golden set" will be played to 15 points, which will determine the final winner. Any other result will send Turan to the group stage.
The winner of the pair will take a place in Group D, where Savino Del Bene Scandicci (Italy), Eczacıbaşı (Turkey) and Tent Obrenovac (Serbia) are already present.
Maritsa faces a serious challenge if it wants to continue its tradition of participation among the strongest European clubs.
photo:cev.eu
