The match between Bulgaria and Italy offers an intriguing clash in the most important position – the setter. On one side isSimeon “Moni” Nikolov– the greatest hope of Bulgarian volleyball, and on the other –Simone Giannelli, one of the most decorated players of his generation.

The Path to the Top

Moni Nikolov was born in 2006 and is the son of legend Vladimir Nikolov. He took his first steps in the academy ofLevski Sofia, with which he won the Bulgarian title and Supercup. He then left for the USA, where he established himself as one of the leading players in collegiate championship and became a champion with the Long Beach team, setting a record for points from serves in the NCAA. From the 2025/26 season, he will begin his professional career atLokomotiv Novosibirsk, where he will work under the guidance of Plamen Konstantinov and with the assistance of Andrey Zhekov. Moni Nikolov is a silver medalist from the U20 European Championship in 2024.

Simone Giannelli was born in 1996 in Bolzano and came up through the academies of Südtirol and Trentino Volley. He debuted in the SuperLega as a teenager and today is the captain of the Italian national team. After successful years at Trentino, he moved toSir Safety Perugia, with which he won numerous domestic and international trophies. Giannelli is an Olympic silver medalist, European and World Champion, and in 2022 was named MVP of the World Championship.

The clash between Moni Nikolov and Simone Giannelli is a clash between two eras – youth, which comes with courage and energy, and experience, which brings stability and class. For Bulgaria, this is a chance to show that the new generation is ready to take over, and for Italy – an opportunity for Giannelli to prove that he is still the standard for a setter in world volleyball.

photos: Nikolay Varadinov