The team ofKS Developres Rzeszówstarted their Champions League campaign with an expected victory overMaritsa Plovdiv, but the Bulgarian champion earned respect with character and a set won against the more-skilled opponent.
The Polish team controlled the match for most of the time, dominating in attack, block, and serve, butMaritsashowed spirit in the second set when, after a strong serving run by Viktoria Koeva and stable play in attack, they managed to reach27:25after long rallies and several saved balls in defense.
In the remaining sets, Developres demonstrated higher class – stable reception, powerful serve, and variety in attack through Katarzyna Wenerska and especially the MVP of the matchTaylor Bannister, who was unstoppable at the net.
Statistics – leading scorers
| Team | Points |
|---|---|
| Taylor Bannister (Developres) | 21 |
| Laura Jansen (Developres) | 12 |
| Marit Jasper (Developres) | 12 |
| Iva Dudova (Maritsa) | 17 |
| Fey Agbortabi (Maritsa) | 12 |
Taylor Bannister dominated offensively, while for Maritsa, Iva Dudova once again held the team together in difficult moments. The difference in squad depth tipped the scales in favor of the Polish champion.
Statistics "," serve and block
| Element | Developres | Maritsa |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 6 | 2 |
| Blocks | 10 | 5 |
| Service errors | 11 | 14 |
Developres' advantage in blocking and the hosts' more aggressive serving made it difficult for Maritsa's reception and tilted the match in their favor.
Line-ups
| Developres Rzeszów | Points |
|---|---|
| Bannister | 21 |
| Jansen | 12 |
| Jasper | 12 |
| Dorsman | 6 |
| Piasecka | 5 |
| Wenerska | 1 |
The main axis Bannister–Jansen–Jasper was too strong for the Bulgarian champion.
| Maritsa Plovdiv | Points |
|---|---|
| Dudova | 17 |
| Agbortabi | 12 |
| Koeva | 6 |
| Angelova | 6 |
| Saikova | 7 |
| Guncheva | 2 |
| Nikolova | 1 |
Maritsa relied almost entirely on Dudova and Agbortabi. The lack of consistency in reception and the weaker back row had an impact in crucial moments.
Maritsa lost, but not without a fight. The set that the team from Plovdiv won showed that the Bulgarian champion has the potential to trouble stronger opponents, provided they stabilize their reception and reduce errors. Developres, however, demonstrated higher class and squad depth – factors that decided the match.
