The volleyball players of Maritza (Plovdiv) took a decisive step towards participating in the group stage of the Champions League, after recording a convincing 3:0 (25:21, 25:9, 25:18) away victory against Dinamo (Zagreb). The match was played in the hallŠportska Dvorana Sutinska Vrelain the Croatian capital.
The Bulgarians demonstrated complete superiority in all elements of the game and left no doubt as to who deserved the success. After an even start in the first set, the "yellow-blues" gained confidence, and in the second, they completely broke the opponent with a crushing 25:9. In the third set, the volleyball players, led by Turkish coach Ahmetcan Erşimşek, maintained concentration and closed the match with a convincing 25:18.
Match Statistics
| Indicator | OK Dinamo Zagreb | Maritza Plovdiv |
|---|---|---|
| Points Won | 48 | 73 |
| Attacks (Kills) | 30 | 40 |
| Blocks | 2 | 11 |
| Aces | 3 | 3 |
| Opponent Errors | 13 | 19 |
Analysis:
The numbers show Maritza's exceptional superiority in attack and block. The Plovdiv team recorded almost five times more successful blocks (11 against 2), which clearly speaks of excellent defensive organization and strong play at the net. Serving was stable – an equal number of aces, but fewer errors. The most significant difference is in attack efficiency – 40 successful finishes against 30 for the hosts. This, combined with disciplined defense and higher resilience in prolonged rallies, secured the comfortable victory.
Top Scorers for Maritza:
Vanessa Agbortabi – 11 points (2 blocks, 1 ace)
Iva Dudova – 14 points (1 block)
Borislava Saykova – 16 points (4 blocks)
On to the rematch
Maritsa needs just one more victory in the rematch in Plovdiv to secure its place among Europe's elite. The match is in a week in the hall"Kolodruma", where the champions of Bulgaria will rely on the powerful support of the audience to finish what they started in Zagreb.
