CSKA's volleyball players achieved their first victory over Levski since 2022, after defeating them 3:2 (25:23, 13:25, 26:28, 25:23, 15:13) in the second semi-final match of the efbet Super Volley, played in the "Hristo Botev" hall.
With this success, "the Reds" leveled the series at 1-1 wins, after the champions won the first match 3:0. The series is played to three wins out of five matches.
The first set was evenly matched, but CSKA took better advantage of the situations at the end and took the lead after 25:23.
Levski responded convincingly in the second set, dominating with serve and block for a 25:13 win.
The third set was contested until the very end. After an exchange of runs and tension in the final points, Levski won it 28:26.
In the fourth set, CSKA managed to build a lead, and despite "the Blues'" attempts to come back, they closed the set at 25:23 and forced the match into a tie-break.
The tie-break offered the most tense moments of the match. Levski started more focused and took a 3:0 lead, but CSKA quickly restored parity.
After the middle of the set, "the Reds" took the initiative and led 12:9, thanks mainly to solid attacks by Nikolay Penchev.
At this point, Levski reacted through Todor Skrimov, who was crucial both in attack and from the service line. With his help, "the Blues" tied at 12:12 and brought the intrigue back completely.
However, until the end, CSKA showed greater efficiency in the crucial rallies. Penchev secured match point, and Mohammad Reza Beik scored the final point for 15:13.
Individual Effectiveness
Mohammad Reza Beik was CSKA's top scorer with 23 points (+8 efficiency), including 1 ace, 3 blocks, and a 54% attack success rate. He received strong support from Stoyko Nenchev with 18 points, Nikolay Penchev with 16, and Spas Bayrev with 10.
For Levski, Julian Weisig was the top scorer with 29 points, followed by Todor Skrimov with 20, Gordan Lyutskanov with 15, and Svetoslav Gotsev with 12, but their contribution was not enough for victory.
Team Statistics:
| Metric | CSKA | Levski |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks | 10 | 14 |
| Attack % | 45% | 51% |
| Attack Points | 60 | 67 |
| Positive reception | 53% | 64% |
| Aces | 4 | 6 |
| Service errors | 18 | 14 |
| Points from opponent errors | 30 | 25 |
Although Levski had an advantage in key elements like attack, block, and reception, CSKA compensated with better utilization of gifted points and greater resilience in decisive moments. The 30 points from opponent errors and more stable play at the end of the sets proved crucial for the final outcome.
The match showed that in such evenly matched clashes, statistical superiority is not always decisive. CSKA was more effective in key points, especially in the tie-break, which proved enough for success and a return to the series.
photos: Nikolay Varadinov
