Bulgarian champions Maritsa (Plovdiv) were eliminated in an extremely dramatic fashion from the strongest European club tournament – the Women's Volleyball Champions League. Ahmetdjan Ershimchek's team showed character and a high level, taking a 2:1 lead in sets, but ultimately lost as guests to French Levallois Paris Saint Cloud (Paris) with a score of 2:3 (24:26, 25:22, 25:17, 22:25, 10:15) in their last Group E match, played this evening in the 'Marcel Cerdan' hall.

The match lasted nearly two and a half hours and offered high-level European volleyball. In the tie-break, Maritsa even managed to equalize at 7:7, but then conceded five unanswered points, which proved decisive. The hosts' victory was confirmed after a video challenge, despite protests, and Maritsa received strong support from a significant Bulgarian fan group in Paris.

The key to the match proved to be the first set, in which Maritsa had real chances to take the lead. After overcoming an early 6:11 deficit and turning it around to 18:15, the Bulgarian team reached 24:24, but allowed a comeback right at the end – 24:26.

In the second set, the Bulgarian champions imposed an aggressive serve, troubled the French team's reception, and opened up a lead at 13:9. After equalizing at 19:19, Iva Dudova took responsibility and with three consecutive successful attacks, pushed Maritsa ahead, and she was the one who closed the set – 25:22.

In the third set, the Yellow-Blues dominated – an early 12:6 lead, a solid block, and a run of six consecutive points at a crucial moment secured a convincing 25:17.

In the fourth set, Maritsa showed resilience, twice overcoming significant deficits – from 3:11 and 13:18, saving two set points, but Levallois nevertheless closed the set at 25:22 and sent the match to a tie-break. There, the hosts prevailed with 15:10.