VC Neftochimic 2010 lost its first match in the international tournament in the Greek city of Orestiada to the hosts with a score of 1:3 (25-24, 25-22, 24-26, 25-20). In "Nikos Samaras" hall, Martin Stoev's team played a spectacular match, full of twists and turns.
In the first set, the hosts tried to maintain a four-point difference – 14:10, 15:11, and 19:15. The team from Burgas managed to equalize at 19:19, but only briefly, and then took the lead at 20:19 after three aces by Dobromir Dimitrov. A point-for-point game followed, and at 23:23, Rozalin Penchev stepped up to serve. However, he was unlucky, and the hosts reached the first set point in the match.
Moroz could have given Neftochimic a set point with a score of 25:24, but instead, he was blocked, and Orestiada won the first set 26:24.
In the second set, "Neftochimic" took a lead of 11:8 and 12:9, but allowed the opponent to reverse the score to 13:12. Orestiada was again the first team to reach set point – at 24:21. Krajchovich stepped up to serve, and after a block-out, the Greek opponent of the Burgas team took a 2:0 set lead with a 25:22 win in the second set.
In the third set, the Bulgarian team dominated and reached 22:17. Stoyan Dimitrov, the team's second opposite hitter, appeared on the court instead of Moroz. Orestiada managed to reach 21:23, but Axel Trukhchev scored a pipe to give "Nafta" a set point. Penchev stepped up to serve, but the hosts scored a point with their attack. Then Orestiada reached both the 23rd and 24th points to equalize. Trukhchev made it 25:24, and then an attack by Stoyan Dimitrov brought success to Neftochimic in this set – 26:24 and 1:2 sets.
In the fourth set, Orestiada pulled ahead 14:8. The visitors started to close the gap and reached 14:18. Subsequently, Trukhchev brought Neftochimic within 3 points of the Greek team – 16:19, and Rozalin Penchev made it 17:19. It even became 18:19! Dobri Dimitrov served a tough ball, and on the counter-attack, Trukhchev equalized – 19:19.
VC Neftochimic 2010 also managed to take a 20:19 lead, but Orestiada equalized. Here, the Greeks got lucky with an out by the Burgas team, and then with a block, to pull away to 23:20.
The hosts were the first to reach set point, closing the set and the match with 25:20.
Captain Axel Trukhchev was the most prolific scorer for VC Neftochimic with 18 points, including two successful blocks. Another outside hitter – Rozalin Penchev, and middle blocker Shimon Krajchovich finished with 8 points each.
Tomorrow, the team from Burgas will face Dinamo (Bucharest) at 6:00 PM.
