Deya Sport won 3:1 (25:18, 18:25, 25:16, 25:20) at home against Challenge Cup participant CSKA in the first match of the ninth round in the Bulgarian men's volleyball championship. The final surge in the fourth set was not enough for CSKA to take even a point on their visit to Deya Sport.

The match did not go well for the "reds". Sasho Popov's players started hesitantly, losing the first set with 18 points. In the second, they changed their style, played a little more confidently, and this brought them success, equalizing again with 18 points. The third set was a copy of the first, and in the fourth, the attempt for a big comeback did not succeed. The Burgas team outplayed their opponent in all elements of the game. CSKA showed a more even performance only in the second set, which they won 25:18. The match lasted 94 minutes.

Zhoro Bratoev has one more match to play in front of his home crowd before leaving the club.

Patrik Lamanec excelled with 23 points for the winners, who broke a streak of four consecutive losses.

Opposite Strahinja Brzakovic and middle blocker Stefan Chavdarov each scored 13 points for the "reds", which is indicative of the visitors' play.
In the standings, CSKA is in seventh place, while Deya Sport occupies sixth position, displacing today's opponent.

Saturday features the derby of the round, when champion Levski Sofia plays away against Montana.

photos: VNL