Simeon Nikolov returns after injury, Damyan Kolev debuts in the Nations League

The Bulgarian men's national volleyball team departed today at noon for the Polish city of Gdańsk, where they will play their matches from the third and final tournament of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL). This will be a crucial phase for Gianlorenzo Blengini's team, which hopes for a good ranking before the final eight of the competition.

Successful recovery for Nikolov and debut for Kolev

The mood among the "Lions" was upbeat even upon departure, as Simeon Nikolov, who missed one match of the campaign due to an ankle injury sustained during the dramatic match against Turkey in Burgas, rejoined the squad. The medical staff gave Nikolov the green light after a successful rehabilitation, and he will be available to Blengini for the important clashes in Poland.

Good news also came from the libero position. Young Damyan Kolev will make his official debut in the Volleyball Nations League after being included in the squad for the tournament in Gdańsk.

Tough schedule and strong opponents

The nationals fly to Gdańsk via Frankfurt and are expected to arrive in the Polish city late in the afternoon. The official press conference is scheduled for tomorrow, and the matches begin on Wednesday.

The program for the Bulgarians will be far from easy – in their first match, the team will face Cuba, whose ranks feature the name of star middle blocker Robertlandy Simón. After that, the "Lions" will also meet China, hosts Poland, and the team from Iran.

Last hopes for qualifying among the best

The tournament in Gdańsk concludes the group stage of the VNL, after which the eight teams that will compete for the trophy in the finals will become clear. The Bulgarians will be looking for valuable points to climb as high as possible in the standings and remain in the elite of world volleyball.