The volleyball club TSV Hartberg officially announced that the two Bulgarian talents from the "Stoytchev-Kaziyski" academy - Veselin Brendyorfer and Aleksandar Shopov - will remain with the team for the 2025/26 season. The decision comes after the team's strong campaign, which finished as runner-up in Austria after a final against the absolute dominator Hypo Tirol, which also featured another Bulgarian player - Danail Dimov.
Vesko's first year: stability and dedication
Young outside hitter Veselin Brendyorfer played his first season in Austria, in which he impressed with consistency, stable performance, and loyalty to collective play. According to the club, he has already proven to be a "valuable addition" to the team, and expectations for the upcoming year are for him to take the next step in his development.
Shopov - the opposite hitter with athletic charge
Aleksandar Shopov, who also grew up in the "Stoytchev-Kaziyski" academy, is starting his second season in Hartberg. In 2024/25, he showed athleticism, a strong hit, and a desire to learn, gradually establishing himself as an important attacking option for the vice-champion. The club expressed confidence that his potential will unfold even further in the new campaign.
Hartberg - a stable project with a Bulgarian footprint
TSV Hartberg finished the 2024/25 season with an excellent balance -second place in the regular season (15 wins and 3 losses)and a playoff final, where only Hypo Tirol proved to be an insurmountable obstacle.
| Position | Team | Played | Wins | Losses | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hypo Tirol Innsbruck | 18 | 18 | 0 | 54 |
| 2 | TSV Hartberg | 18 | 15 | 3 | 41 |
| 3 | Aich/Dob | 18 | 13 | 5 | 38 |
| 4 | Ried | 18 | 13 | 5 | 35 |
The standings clearly show the dominance of Hypo Tirol, but Hartberg managed to establish itself as the closest competitor. It is precisely in this project that the Bulgarian duo Brendyorfer-Shopov will have the opportunity to grow and play under pressure in the most important matches.
By extending the contracts of Veselin Brendyorfer and Aleksandar Shopov, TSV Hartberg not only maintains stability in its squad but also continues to develop the "Bulgarian connection," which is already a recognizable brand in Austria. The next season promises new challenges and an even greater role for the two alumni of "Stoichev-Kaziyski."]}1. С удължаването на договорите на Веселин Брендйорфер и Александър Шопов, TSV Hartberg не просто запазва стабилност в състава си, но и продължава да развива „българската връзка“, която вече е разпознаваема марка в Австрия. Следващият сезон обещава нови предизвикателства и още по-голяма роля за двамата възпитаници на „Стойчев–Казийски“.`](json)
