Bulgarian national Alex Grozdanov continues to solidify his status as one of the strongest middle blockers in Europe. The player for Polish Bogdanka LUK Lublin secured a spot in the top 3 best blockers in the group stage of the Volleyball Champions League, one round before the end of this part of the tournament.
Grozdanov holds the third position in the ranking for successful blocks – proof of his consistency and influence on the game at the net.
| Rank | Player | Team | Blocks | Average per set |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ahmet Tümer | Galatasaray | 20 | 0,87 |
| 2 | Yurii Semeniuk | Warsaw | 18 | 0,95 |
| 3 | Alex Grozdanov | Lublin | 15 | 0,68 |
The numbers show that Grozdanov is among the most effective blocking players in the tournament. Although he lags behind the first two in total points, his presence in the top 3 is significant recognition, especially given the competition from leading European clubs. The Bulgarian remains a key factor in Lublin's defense.
Alex Nikolov also in the top 10 – among the most prolific attackers
Another big Bulgarian news comes from the distribution among attackers and point-scorers. The young star Alex Nikolov also made it into the top 10 of individual rankings by elements in the group stage.
The player for Italian giants Cucine Lube Civitanova is among the most prolific players in the tournament and finds a place in the rankings for both attackers and point-scorers.
Top 10 Attackers (Killing Spikes)
| Rank | Player | Team | Successful attacks | Average per set |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Alex Nikolov | Lube Civitanova | 74 | 5,29 |
Brief analysis:
Nikolov ranks among the best attackers in the Champions League, despite having played fewer matches compared to others at the top. An average of over 5 successful attacks per set is an indicator of his high efficiency and his important role in Lube's attack.
Top 10 Scorers (Points)
| Rank | Player | Team | Points | Average per set |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Alex Nikolov | Lube Civitanova | 84 | 6 |
Brief analysis:
84 points in the group stage and an average of 6 per set place Nikolov among the tournament's leading scorers. This is especially impressive for a player who is still building his status at the highest European level.
The Bulgarian imprint in Europe
The fact that two Bulgarians are in the top 10 of the Champions League in key elements – blocking and scoring efficiency – is a serious signal for the quality of Bulgarian national team players in club volleyball.
Alex Grozdanov dominates at the net as one of the best blockers, while Alex Nikolov demonstrates class in attack against the strongest teams on the continent.
With one round left until the end of the group stage, the Bulgarian presence among Europe's elite is more than impressive.
photo: Nikolay Varadinov
