Banca Macerata Fisiomed achieved an extremely valuable away victory against Consar Ravenna with 3:0 (25:20, 28:26, 25:17) in the second match of the second part of the Serie A2 Credem Banca championship. The success came on one of the toughest courts in the league – "Pala de Andre", and the clash had a clear Bulgarian accent with the participation of four national team players.

Macerata controlled the match from the first to the last point, surpassing their opponent mainly in serving and blocking. These elements made the difference against Ravenna, who struggled to find solutions against the well-organized block-defense of the visitors.

The first set was decided after a series of strong serves and effective net play. In the second set, the hosts took a comfortable lead, but Macerata showed character, came back into the set, and closed it after a tense game at equal points. The third set was entirely dictated by the visitors and effectively had no suspense.

Rusi Zhelev and Denis Karyagin were among Macerata's most consistent players. Zhelev distinguished himself with key blocks and stability in attack, while Karyagin provided the necessary balance between offense and reception. The two Bulgarians made a significant contribution to the team's dominance in net play.

For Ravenna, Hristiyan Dimitrov was the most prolific scorer, carrying the main burden in attack and seeking solutions even with difficult balls. Samuil Valchinov also participated but faced significant difficulties against Macerata's high and well-organized block.

The focus of the match between Consar Ravenna and Banca Macerata Fisiomed was logically on the four Bulgarian volleyball players, who had different impact and roles in the final result.

Rusi Zhelev played one of his strongest matches of the season. The national team player finished with 12 points, being extremely effective in blocking and stable in attack from Zone 4. His interventions at the net in the third set ultimately broke Ravenna's attempts for a comeback. Zhelev also made an important contribution to the organization of block-defense, which isn't directly reflected in the points but was crucial for Macerata's dominance.

Denis Karyagin also concluded the match with 12 points, demonstrating consistency throughout. He was actively used both in attacking high balls and in counterattacks after defensive saves. Karyagin provided the necessary balance in reception and allowed Macerata to maintain a stable rhythm even in the most intense moments of the second set.

On Ravenna's side, Hristiyan Dimitrov was the main scorer. He finished with 13 points, taking on the greatest burden in attack, especially in the first two sets. However, he often faced organized double blocks, which led to a drop in his effectiveness in decisive rallies.

Samuil Valchinov recorded 6 points and had more limited participation in offense. The young Bulgarian faced serious difficulties against Macerata's high block and rarely got opportunities for clear attacks. Valchinov showed desire and activity, but the lack of consistency in reception and difficult attacking situations limited his influence on the match's outcome.

Match Statistics

Macerata won the match precisely in the elements that decide high-level encounters in A2 – block and serve. Despite a lower percentage of positive reception, the visitors compensated with higher attack efficiency and significantly more direct points from the net.

The 3:0 victory (25:20, 28:26, 25:17) confirms Macerata's good form and provides a serious boost in the battle for the top positions; after the win, they climbed to seventh place, while Ravenna is third. Bulgarian volleyball players Rusi Zhelev and Denis Karyagin played a key role in the success, while for Samuil Vulchinov and Dimitar Dimitrov, the match demonstrated how difficult it is to single-handedly oppose a well-assembled and disciplined team.

photos: legavolley.it