What happened was that we realized the opponent wasn't scary. We realized there was no reason to respect them more than they deserved, and that they weren't better than us, as it seemed in the first two sets. At the end of the second set, we were making excuses, but in the third, we pulled ourselves together, started playing, and that was the most important thing. The game picked up, they started to slow down, and ultimately, in the tie-break, we played better and defeated them.

This is a complete comeback, and it doesn't happen every day. The fact that we are the youngest team in the tournament means a lot – it shows what generation is coming up for Bulgaria and the hard work being put into junior and youth volleyball. I hope to make my father happy with a silver or gold medal – there's nothing else.

In the first two sets, our serve was lacking. They are a team that gets into a rhythm, and it's hard to counter them if you don't take risks with your serve or don't read the block better. Subsequently, we increased the pressure from our serves and started to read their attacks better. Our defense was phenomenal – the ball simply wasn't dropping.

As for my rivalry with Mika – he is an exceptional player. Even during scrimmages with them, I tried to learn something from him. I respect him greatly because he leads a large part of their game. My goal is to follow in his footsteps and even surpass him.

Preparation for the next match begins with not thinking about volleyball or the Czech Republic tonight. We need to rest because I am emotionally exhausted. After that, the real work begins.