The champion of Bulgaria, Maritsa (Plovdiv), was eliminated in an extremely dramatic fashion from the strongest European club tournament – the Women's Volleyball Champions League. Ahmetcan Erşimşek's girls played one of their strongest matches of the season, took 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 match from Group E, played in the "Marcel Cerdan" hall.
The match lasted nearly two and a half hours and was full of twists, long runs, and tension until the very last point. In the tie-break, Maritsa managed to equalize at 7:7, but then conceded five unanswered points, which proved fatal. The hosts' victory was confirmed after a video challenge, and the Plovdiv team received strong support from a solid Bulgarian fan group in the stands in Paris.
The missed opportunity in the first set.
The key to the match was undoubtedly the first set. Maritsa overcame an early 6:11 deficit, turned it around to 18:16, and reached 24:24, but in the decisive rallies, they failed to close the set and lost it 24:26. This very set gave additional confidence to Levallois and left the impression that the Bulgarian champion had missed a golden opportunity to dictate the course of the match.
Strong response and a 2:1 comeback.
In the second set, Maritsa played more aggressively on serve, making it difficult for the French team to receive, and took leads of 9:5 and 14:11. After an equalization at 19:19, Iva Dudova took responsibility and, with a series of effective attacks, put the Yellow-Blues ahead, and she ultimately closed the set at 25:22.
The third set was the strongest for the Plovdiv team. A stable block, better defensive organization, and effective attack allowed Maritsa to pull ahead 12:6, and after a run of six consecutive points in the middle of the set, the outcome was decided – 25:17 and a 2:1 lead.
Decline in the fourth set and a decisive tie-break.
In the fourth set, Levallois started more concentrated and took an 11:3 lead, capitalizing on a series of unforced errors by Maritsa. The Bulgarian team found its rhythm, caught up, and even saved two set points, but the hosts still forced the match into a tie-break after a 25:22 win.
In the decisive fifth set, Maritsa showed character and came back from a deficit to 7:7, but it was precisely the reception problems and Levallois' strong serve that tipped the scales. The French team made a decisive run and closed the tie-break at 15:10.
Final Standings in Group E.
| Team. | Wins. | Losses. | Points. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developres (Rzeszów). | 5 | 1 | 15 |
| Palmberg (Schwerin). | 3 | 3 | 10 |
| Levallois Paris Saint Cloud (Paris). | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Maritsa (Plovdiv). | 1 | 5 | 5 |
Analysis: The table shows that Maritsa finishes in 4th place with 5 points, but the performance in the last match leaves a feeling of unrealized potential. One won first set in Paris could have entirely changed the standings and provided a chance to advance.
The Statistics – where the match was decided
Levallois had an advantage in serving – 14 aces against 8, while Maritsa was better in blocking – 18 against 15. In attack, the Bulgarian champion was also more effective (39% against 29%), but problems in reception (37% positive) proved decisive in key moments.
Conclusion: Despite better blocking and higher effectiveness in attack, Maritsa lost the match due to unstable reception and weaker serving in the decisive sets.
With their third place, Levallois Paris Saint Cloud continues its participation in the second strongest European tournament – the CEV Cup, where in the 1/4-finals they will face the Turkish giant Galatasaray HDI Sigorta (Istanbul).
Maritsa (Plovdiv) is left with the bitterness of their dramatic elimination, but also the confidence that the Bulgarian champion now plays volleyball worthy of the highest European level.
