Kristina Guncheva once again left her mark in CSO Voluntari's European campaign. The Bulgarian setter was part of the important away victory against Volei Alba Blaj in the first quarterfinal match of the CEV Cup, won 3:1 (25:20, 26:24, 19:25, 25:23).

The victory in Blaj gave a significant advantage to the team from Ilfov county before the return leg in Bucharest, and Guncheva continues to be a valuable element in coach Giovanni Caprara's system.

Kristina Guncheva, who in recent seasons has established herself as one of the most stable Bulgarian setters abroad, once again showed composure and experience in a key European match.

The Bulgarian finished the match with 2 points (+1), but her contribution is far from measured only by statistics.

CSO Voluntari prevailed after close second and fourth sets, in which the team demonstrated greater resilience in the decisive rallies.

The top scorer for the winners was Nicole van de Vosse with 23 points, and Radosova added 16. A large part of Voluntari's attack revolved precisely around these attackers, and Guncheva's task was to maintain variety and speed in the game.

For the Bulgarian player, this is another opportunity to gain experience at a high level and to be part of a team aiming for a breakthrough in Europe.

An interesting fact is that this was the fifth match between Voluntari and Alba Blaj this season. After the quarterfinal success, Guncheva's team now leads 3-2 in direct encounters.

The return leg is on February 25 in Bucharest, and Voluntari will once again rely on stability in game organization. For Kristina Guncheva, such matches are an opportunity not only for club success, but also for even stronger establishment on the European stage.

photos:Volei Alba Blaj