Beroe 2016 tied the quarterfinal series against CSKA after a decisive 3:0 (26:24, 25:20, 25:17) victory in Stara Zagora. Thus, the Stara Zagora team restored equality in the playoff clash and sent the decider to a third match, which will be played in Sofia.

The match began with significant intrigue right from the first set. The visitors from CSKA dictated the tempo for a long time and maintained a 4-5 point lead, but in the decisive moments, the hosts showed a stronger mentality. Beroe 2016 managed to turn the tide of the set at the end, with better attack efficiency and stronger serving proving key.

The second set was relatively even, but even in it, the Stara Zagora team found a way to strike at the right time. After taking an early lead, the hosts did not allow the "Reds" to make a comeback and confidently closed the set at 25:20.

The third set became a complete opposite of the first, with the roles reversed this time. Beroe 2016 imposed total dominance from the very beginning, building an impressive 16:5 lead and leaving no doubt until the end as to who would achieve victory. Without unnecessary pressure, the hosts finished the match at 25:17 and deservedly remained in the battle for a place in the semifinals.

The top scorer for the winners was Velizar Chernokozhev with 14 points, finishing with an efficiency of +6, 2 blocks, and a 36% attack success rate. Martin Mechkarov added 12 points, and Jesse Jelansi also contributed 12 points to the victory.

In the CSKA squad, no one managed to reach a double-digit point total. The top scorer for the "Army men" was middle blocker Teodor Todorov with 7 points.

Team Statistics

Beroe 2016 won the match primarily due to a more solid performance at the net and greater efficiency in attack. The 12 percent difference in attack and better reception clearly show why the hosts controlled the key moments. CSKA was close in some elements but failed to find consistency offensively, and this tipped the scales in favor of the Stara Zagora team.