CSKA's volleyball players started the new season in efbet Super Volley in the best possible way, after defeating Dea Sport 3:0 (25:23, 25:22, 27:25) as guests in the 'Boycho Bryanzov' hall in Burgas. Although the result seems categorical, 'the Reds' had to put in serious effort to deal with their tough opponent.
Good start and stability in decisive moments
From the very first set, CSKA demonstrated better concentration and more effective play. After an even development, Vicente Minaya's serve helped the visitors take a decisive advantage at 24:22, and the Australian opposite Hameish Hazeldon scored the last point for 25:23.
In the second set, Aleksandar Popov's proteges continued with pressure from the serve and a stable block. In the middle of the set, 'the Army men' were already leading 20:13. The hosts managed to cut some of their deficit, but CSKA maintained control and won 25:22.
The third set offered the most emotions. 'The Reds' took a 4:1 lead, but Dea Sport showed character and turned it around to 14:10. Towards the end of the set, CSKA equalized at 21:21, followed by a fierce point-for-point battle. Hazeldon brought a match point with a successful attack, and after three match points and a triple block, in which Mohammad Reza Beik also participated, the dispute was settled – 27:25 and 3:0 in sets.
Match statistics - top scorers
| Player | Team | Points | Aces | Blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hameish Hazeldon | CSKA | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Mohammad Reza Beik | CSKA | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| Nikolay Penchev | CSKA | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Teodor Todorov | CSKA | 10 | 0 | 5 |
| Tsvetelin Tsvetanov | Deya Sport | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Erion Bajrami | Deya Sport | 11 | 0 | 2 |
The statistics highlight CSKA's diverse offense and the high efficiency of experienced players. Teodor Todorov stood out with five blocks and was deservedly named MVP of the match. New additions Hazeldine and Bake also impressed – the former with consistency in attack, and the latter with contributions in reception. For Deya Sport, the main attacking burden was carried by Tsvetanov and Bajrami, but the team failed to maintain stability in reception and finishing phases.
photo: NVL
