ARIS returned to the Greek Volleyball League after a 10-year absence, with Bulgarian opposite Bojan Yordanov at the heart of the historic success for the "yellow-blacks". The team from Thessaloniki achieved one of the most memorable comebacks in recent years – from 0:2 to 3:2 (22:25,14:25,27:25,25:17,15:9) as guests against their big rival Iraklis, closing the final series with a 2-0 victory.

In the packed "Katsanio" hall, the hosts seemed a step away from tying the series after taking a 2:0 lead in sets and even having two match points in the third set. It was precisely at this crucial moment that Yordanov's experience and ARIS's stability tipped the scales.
Iraklis started stronger and after a 9-9 tie in the first set, managed to establish control, reaching 25-22. In the second set, the hosts completely dominated and with a powerful run, closed it at 25-14 for a 2:0 lead.
The turning point came in the third set. At 24-23 for Iraklis, the hosts missed a match point, and ARIS showed character. After stable attack play and key rallies, including important points from Yordanov, the guests turned it around to 25-27 and brought the intrigue back.
The fourth set was dictated by ARIS, who quickly built a lead and without hesitation equalized after 17-25. In the tie-break, the "yellow-blacks" were emphatic – Yordanov and company controlled the rallies and closed the match with a 15-9 score.
Thus, ARIS not only won the derby but also sealed its return to the elite, having won the first match of the series 3:1 (23:25,30:28,25:17,39:37).
The success also bears a strong Bulgarian imprint. Bojan Yordanov was a leader in decisive moments, especially at the end of the third set and in the tie-break, where his high-level experience spoke volumes. His presence provided the necessary composure in key rallies and proved to be a decisive factor in the comeback.
The question remains whether Yordanov, who turned 43 last month, will continue to play, as he hinted at retirement at the beginning of the championship. We would like to remind you that Lyubomir Ganev and Plamen Konstantinov have also played for this club.

photos:arisvolleyball.gr