Alex Grozdanov and Asparuh Asparuhov delivered a volleyball masterclass in the "Bulgarian" derby of the round in Poland. Ultimately, BOGDANKA LUK Lublin made an impressive comeback against Ślepsk Malow Suwałki – 3:2(21:25,29:27,25:19,25:17,15:4) – and the two national team players were among the brightest figures on the court.
The match unfolded with classic drama – 0:2 sets for the visitors, followed by complete control from the champions in the final three sets and a tie-break without intrigue.
Asparuhov led the charge for an upset
Suwałki played two sets at a very high level. Asparuh Asparuhov was the engine of the team – aggressive on serve, stable in reception, and confident in attack. After his ace, the difference in the first set became 17:9, and the set concluded 25:21.
In the second set, Suwałki demonstrated mental resilience and dramatically snatched 29:27 for a 2:0 set lead, with the last point coming after the ball, deflected from the block and going out, touched Hilyr Eno. An upset was knocking on the door.
Grozdanov turned the tide
Lublin's response came through serve and block. Alex Grozdanov set the tone with two consecutive aces at the start of the third set, and subsequently, the hosts' block began to dominate.
A series of attacks by Wilfredo Leon and the stability of Hilyr Eno stabilized the game, and the scores 25:19 and 25:17 restored parity – 2:2.
In the tie-break, the class difference was categorical – 15:4 after a 9:0 lead. An attack by Asparuhov followed for 9:1, again Asparuhov for 12:3, the newly entered Zajac gave the first match point, and McCarthy converted it.
Statistics of Bulgarian National Players
| Player | Team | Points | +/- | Aces | Blocks | Attack Efficiency % | Efficiency | Positive Reception % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Grozdanov | BOGDANKA LUK | 17 | +15 | 2 | 7 | 62% | 46% | - |
| Asparuh Asparuhov | Ślepsk Suwałki | 20 | +7 | 2 | 1 | 42% | 25% | 48% |
Grozdanov finished with more points than star Leon and was fundamental in the comeback
– 7(!) blocks and 62% attack efficiency are indicators of the highest European class for a middle blocker. The +15 metric highlights his influence on the match's outcome.
Asparuhov was the top scorer for his team with 20 points, a stable 48% positive reception, and 2 aces, but the lower attack efficiency (25%) indicates that the load on him was immense.
Individual performance
| Team | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| BOGDANKA LUK | Hilir Henno (MVP) | 20 |
| BOGDANKA LUK | Alex Grozdanov | 17 |
| BOGDANKA LUK | Wilfredo Leon | 13 |
| BOGDANKA LUK | Fynnian McCarthy | 12 |
| Ślepsk Suwałki | Asparuh Asparuhov | 20 |
| Ślepsk Suwałki | Bartosz Filipiak | 16 |
| Ślepsk Suwałki | Antoni Kwasigroch | 13 |
| Ślepsk Suwałki | Joaquin Gallego | 11 |
Eno deservedly became MVP with 20 points and stability in key rallies. Leon added 13, McCarthy
12, but it was the balance in the decisive sets that made the difference. For Suwałki, Filipiak (16), Kwasigroch (13) and Gallego (11) supported Asparuhov, but the lack of depth in the squad proved crucial.
Standings
BOGDANKA climbed to fourth position with its 13th victory and 39 points as many as third-placed Indykpol AZS Olsztyn, but they have one more victory than Lublin. Suwałki remains 10th with 25 points and may regret missing the opportunity for a more significant jump in the standings.
The Bulgarian presence was decisive
Grozdanov dominated in blocking and statistically even outperformed Leon, and Asparuhov was the leader of his team. The match showed that our national team players are key figures in one of the strongest championships in Europe.
Photos: plusliga.pl
