Bulgaria lost to Turkey 1:3(23:25, 25:19, 21:25, 17:25)in the final of the Euro qualification forEuro 2026 for women U18, which was played in 'Hristo Botev' Hall.
The girls ofAtanas Petrovstarted the final match with great desire and character, but ultimately failed to break the well-organized and physically stronger team of Turkey. Despite the loss, the Bulgarian team showed moments of quality volleyball, especially in the second set, when they completely dictated the play.
The top scorers for Bulgaria wereKalina Veneva – 16 points,Darina Naneva – 15andKaterina Popova – 12, but their efforts were not enough for a comeback.
The first set was crucial – Bulgaria led in the middle (16:14 and 21:20), but conceded a run at the end. The second set was the strongest for our team – stable serving, more saved balls in defense, and decisive control. In the third and fourth sets, Turkey established superiority early in the rallies, which did not allow the Bulgarians to develop their game.
The three top-scoring players for Turkey
| Player | Total points |
|---|---|
| Hiranur Baygara | 16 |
| Minel Nefin Ozen | 16 |
| Aylin Uysalcan | 14 |
Baygara and Ozen were the backbone of the Turkish attack, acting effectively in crucial moments. Uysalcan added significant stability through the middle and on serve, which allowed Turkey to build an early lead in the sets and control it until the end.
Despite the loss in the final, the Bulgarian team showed potential and character. Our girls will awaitthe second phase of the qualifications, which will take place betweenMarch 26–29.
