The Bulgarian national volleyball team qualified for the final of the second eight at the World Championship in China, after defeating Japan 3:1 (25-20, 12-25, 25-17, 25-22) in Jiangmen. The match turned into a true "game of amplitudes" – with alternating ups and downs in our boys' play.
Match progress
Ventsislav Simeonov's selection started the first set confidently, but in the second part, a serious collapse followed – a lack of concentration and motivation. The psychological aspect also played a role – it's difficult to play for 9th place when you arrive with the aura of a bronze medalist from the previous World Championship.
Nevertheless, the young squad managed to regroup, with 18-year-old talent Jasmin Velichkov (from the new season, a player for Italian first division Monza) becoming the leader for yet another match, demonstrating class in the third and fourth sets. The turnaround at the end of the fourth set was particularly impressive, with which our team managed to catch up with the Japanese, and several successful plays and blocks to close the match, which was heading for a tie-break.
Match statistics
| Category | Bulgaria | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | 53 | 49 |
| Block | 10 | 4 |
| Serve (Aces) | 2 | 1 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 22 | 30 |
| Total points | 87 | 84 |
| Digs | 44 | 64 |
| Reception | 73 | 68 |
| Setting | 98 | 109 |
Top scorers:
| Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Yasmin Velichkov (3) | Bulgaria | 24 |
| Kandez (13) | Bulgaria | 11 |
| Kawano (2) | Japan | 18 |
| Ono (9) | Japan | 16 |
Tomorrow at 19:00 our team will play in the 9th place match against the winner of the duelUkraine – South KoreaFor Bulgaria's young squad, this is a chance to close the championship with dignity and a positive finish, and for Yasmin Velichkov – another opportunity to shine before the start of the club season in Italy.
photo:volleyballworld.com
