CSKA showed great will and character to leave Montana with a victory. Our volleyball players rejoiced with a 3:2 set win in the 'Mladost' hall in a very dramatic match, also marked by an unpleasant incident – at the start of the third set, the second referee Bozhidara Mitkova experienced a health problem, and the match was interrupted for nearly 20 minutes before resuming with a substitute referee.
The match saw serious ups and downs for Sasho Popov's boys, who twice had to catch up with the score. However, in key moments, the strong options the visiting team had from the bench became apparent, including the excellent performance of young talent Nikola Velikov at the setter position. A move that had a huge impact on the match's outcome.
The 'Army Men' had hesitations at the start of one of their strong elements – blocking, but as the match progressed, it worked more and more stably, and ultimately the Sofia team directly stopped 13 opponent attacks. Serving also did its job, with the 'Reds' recording 7 aces, and stable reception allowed greater versatility in attack.
In the tie-break, CSKA asserted complete dominance, dictated the tempo entirely, and gave the hosts no chances.
Mohammad Beik was the most effective scorer for the victory with 20 points (3 blocks, 1 ace, 63% positive reception, 48% attack efficiency). Stoyko Nenchev added 16 (3 aces, 2 blocks, 69% attack efficiency), and Hamish Hazelden came off the bench with 15 points (2 blocks, 48% attack efficiency).
Top scorers for Montana Volley: Kristiyan Valchak – 20 points, Mark Mikhailov – 18 points, and Bruno Rubo – 16 points.
The MVP of the match was CSKA's reserve setter, 17-year-old Nikola Velikov, who scored 2 points, brought calm and excellent organization to the 'Reds'' game in crucial moments.
Match Statistics
| Indicator | Montana | CSKA |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks | 11 | 13 |
| Attack Efficiency | 40% | 47% |
| Positive Reception | 45% | 64% |
| Aces | 6 | 7 |
| Points from Opponent Errors | 21 | 29 |
The final numbers unequivocally highlight CSKA's superiority in the key elements of the game. The 'Reds' dominated in attack and especially in positive reception, which ensured better organization and versatility in offense. The advantage in aces and points from opponent errors further tipped the balance in favor of the visitors. Montana countered with strong blocking play, but lower attack efficiency and more hesitant reception proved to be decisive factors, especially in the tie-break, where CSKA dictated the proceedings on the court.
This is CSKA's ninth victory since the start of the season. With it, the 'Army Men' accumulated 29 points and moved into second place, just behind Lokomotiv Avia, who has 28 points but with 10 wins. In the next round, CSKA hosts Beroe – the match is on January 31st at 19:00 in the 'Vasil Simov' hall.
photo: nvl.bg
