CSO Voluntari recorded one of the most significant European victories in its history, after eliminating German VfB Suhl Thuringen and qualifying for the CEV Cup playoffs. The Romanian team won 3:0 (25:23, 30:28, 25:23), and then also won the decisive "golden set" 15:10 in the "Polivalenta" hall in Bucharest.
After the 1:3 defeat in the first match, the hosts had to win 3:0 or 3:1 to reach an additional set. The mission was fully accomplished, and one of the key figures in the development of the match turned out to be the Bulgarian setter Guncheva.
In the first two sets, Guncheva appeared sporadically, mainly for serving. It was during these moments that Voluntari managed to intensify pressure on the Germans' reception and disrupt their rhythm. Her true role, however, came later.
In the third set and in the "golden set," the Bulgarian started as a regular setter. Voluntari's game gained greater variability, the tempo became better controlled, and the attack was more effective in decisive moments.
The second set of the regular match was a true display of character. Voluntari was trailing 1:9, 4:11, 10:16, 13:19, and 14:20, but the hosts fought for every ball, showed excellent defense with saved balls, and equalized at 21:21. A dramatic finish followed, in which three set points were saved before reaching 30:28 ", a moment that effectively decided the fate of the qualification.
CSO Voluntari Point Tally
| Player | Points | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|
| Van de Vosse | 20 | +16 |
| G. Popa | 16 | +14 |
| Radosova | 16 | +13 |
| Starks | 11 | +10 |
| D. Ionescu | 3 | -1 |
| Guncheva | 1 | +1 |
| Duchesneau | 1 | 0 |
| Axinte | 1 | 0 |
| Schut | 1 | -1 |
| Alexandru | 0 | 0 |
| Mazej | 0 | libero |
Statistics don't tell the whole story. For Guncheva, the numbers are modest (1 ace), but her stable distribution and lack of errors in the most crucial rallies carry far more weight than the number of points. The decision for her to start as a starter in the decisive phase proved to be one of the key tactical moves by the Voluntari staff.
In the CEV Cup playoffs, CSO Voluntari will face the Polish Moya Radomka Radom, which currently ranks eighth in the standings. The first match is on January 27th as an away game. This is an intermediate phase between the round of 16 and the quarterfinals – a regulatory decision that creates confusion, but these are the facts.
One thing is certain – with this victory and Guncheva's decisive contribution, Voluntari has taken another significant step forward on its European journey.
