One of the strongest opposite hitters in world volleyball – Dutch national Nimir Abdel-Aziz – gave an extremely serious assessment of Bulgarian setter Simeon Nikolov. In a statement for Volleyball Masterclass, he drew a direct parallel between his own development as a young setter and the profile of the 19-year-old Bulgarian.

The assessment is not just a compliment. It is an expert opinion from someone who has undergone a positional transformation and reached the world elite.

"In setting, he might already be a little better."

Nimir, who began his career as a setter before becoming one of the most prolific opposite hitters in the world, sees similarities in their attacking profiles:

"Many people told me he resembles what I was as a setter – tall and loving to attack. In attack, we are quite similar."

The key part, however, comes next:

"In setting, he might already be a little better."

This is not a phrase uttered lightly. Nimir is a player with years of experience in the strongest championships, with world-class physical attributes – 202 cm height, 365 cm attack reach, and 350 cm block reach. When such a profile makes a technical comparison, the weight is different.

Simeon Nikolov's Profile

Nikolov's height of 209 centimeters places him among the tallest setters in world volleyball. His attacking reach of 365 cm is on par with that of a classic opposite hitter. This explains why Nimir draws the parallel – the profile is atypical for the position. Combined with his age – just 19 years old – a horizon of "the next 20 years" doesn't sound like an exaggeration, but like a mathematical reality.

Position change? Nimir is adamant

"If he decides to become an opposite hitter, he can. But when I watched him, I think he loves setting more than I did. If he stays a setter, he could be something truly special."

This is the true core of the statement. It's not about whether Nikolov can be an opposite hitter. It's about world volleyball seeing in him a setter with the potential to change the profile of the position.

Simeon Nikolov is already part of Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, where he works in a demanding environment with serious competition. He is the son of legend Vladimir Nikolov and brother of star Aleksandar Nikolov – a surname that carries weight, but also pressure.

In this case, however, we are talking about an external assessment. Not an internal Bulgarian expectation, but recognition from abroad.

Volleyball has long sought an evolution of the setter position. Height, aggression, attack from the first and second line, serving under pressure – these are no longer bonus qualities, but part of the new model.

Nikolov fits exactly this profile.

When a player like Nimir – who transitioned from setter to opposite hitter and established himself among the best – states that the Bulgarian can be "special for the next 20 years," it's not politeness. It's a signal.

A signal that Bulgaria doesn't just have talent.

But that it could have a setter who sets the standard for a generation.