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Latest news from the world of volleyball
It became clear when they will interview Marcello Alondanza
The commission, which the Management Board of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation appointed to conduct interviews with candidates for the new head coach of the women's national team, will hear the Italian specialist Marcello Abbondanza at an online meeting on November 5, learnedVolleyweek. The commission's members include president Lyubomir Ganev, vice-president Iliya Dinkov, national teams' supervisor Nikolay Ivanov, and Management Board member Sasho Yovkov. They will also hold meetings with the other two candidates – Ivan Petkov and Radoslav Arsov.Each coach will present their program for preparation, staff selection, control matches, and a plan for integrating young national team players. The questions for the candidates will be identical to ensure transparency of the procedure. The federation's president Lyubomir Ganev emphasized that the main goal of the new head coach will be the integration of the U19 world champions and the girls from the U21 team, which placed fourth in the world, into the senior team.
Scandal in Albania: Brazilian volleyball player expelled due to "gender doubts" – coach speaks of discrimination
Brazilian volleyball player Naiara Ferreira, who plays for the Albanian club KV Dinamo (Tirana), was suspended from participating in the championship due to doubts about her gender identity. The decision was made by the Albanian Volleyball Federation (FSHV) and provoked strong reactions in the country, according toBalkanInsight. The 32-year-old athlete has already missed two matches after the federation suspended her following a complaint from the Pogradeci club, which KV Tirana later joined. The case became public on October 25 and immediately sparked heated debates about rights and discrimination in sports. The Albanian Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination and Dinamo's coach, Orlando Koja, condemned the federation's decision, calling it a "violation of Ferreira's personal dignity and human rights."
Bogdanka LUK (Lublin) with a third consecutive victory, Alex Grozdanov stable in the center
Poland's champion Bogdanka LUK (Lublin) recorded its third consecutive victory since the start of the new season in PlusLiga, after decisively defeating newcomer InPost HKS (Chełm) as a guest with a 3:0 (25:22, 25:14, 25:19) score. The match was played this evening in front of about 1500 spectators in Chełm, and the success solidified Stefan Antiga's team in second place in the provisional standings – 3 wins from 3 matches and 8 points.The Polish champions demonstrated their class from the very beginning, completely controlling the course of the match. Only in the first set did Antiga have to adjust the reception organization, but after that, Bogdanka's consistency and discipline left no doubt as to who held the initiative. Wilfredo Leon was the team's leader with 14 points (4 aces, 67% attack efficiency) and was chosen as the MVP of the match. The champions' next challenge is the Polish Super Cup – on Wednesday (November 5) at 9:30 PM against Jastrzębski Węgiel, in the arena"Spodek"in Katowice.
Reggers destroyed Monza with 35 points in Milan's Super League derby victory
Allianz Milano achieved an impressive home victory with a 3:1 (22:25, 25:19, 25:21, 28:26) score over Vero Volley Monza in one of the most interesting matches of the final round of the Italian SuperLega. The hero of the Lombardy derby was the Belgian international Ferre Reggers, who played a truly phenomenal match and finished with 35 points (3 blocks, 3 aces) in just four sets. Monza started better and won the first set 25:22, thanks to stable play in attack and good defensive organization. In the second, however, the hosts from Milano increased their aggression in serve and attack, which brought them an equalizer after a 25:19 score. The third set continued in the same vein A Milano showed greater resilience in rallies and took the lead after 25:21.
Lube suffered the success, Alex Nikolov four points away from the 100 mark for the season
La Cucine Lube Civitanova won 3:1 (25:17, 25:22, 23:25, 25:21) against the persistent team ofCisterna Volleyin a match from the fourth round of the Italian Superlega. The victory allowed Gianpaolo Medei's team to climb to the top of the standings with 10 points, but the match was far from an easy ride. Lube had to work hard, especially after the difficult third set, in which the opponent managed to take advantage of a moment of lapse in concentration by the hosts. The brightest figure for the hosts was once againAlex Nikolov, who scored16 points(3 blocks) and 46% in attack, being onlyfour points from 100since the start of the season – an indicator of his consistency and leading role in the attack of the Italian Cup holders and silver medalists from the 2024/25 season. The Bulgarian was an equal top scorer with Botolo - 16 (2 blocks, 1 ace), with both of them carrying the decisive phases of the match.
Only one "Bulgarian" victory in Serie A2 and it is for Ravenna
Out of four matches with Bulgarian participation in the Italian Serie A2, only the team of Consar Ravenna celebrated success. The team ofHristiyan Dimitrov, Samuil Valchinov, and Manuel Zlatanovprevailed over Prisma La Cascina Taranto with a 3:0 (25:15, 25:20, 25:18) victory.Dimitrov was the top scorer for Ravenna with 16 points (3 blocks, 2 aces), Zlatanov added 13 (2 blocks), and Valchinov finished with 11 (1 block). For Taranto, Oleg Antonov was the most effective player with 12 points (1 block), a former teammate of Georgi Tatarov in Grottazzolina. The team of Macerata lost their away game to ABBA Pineto with a 0:3 (21:25, 25:27, 23:25) defeat.For the winners, Matheus Krauchuk (1 block, 3 aces) and Paulo Di Silvestre (1 block, 1 ace) both finished with 13 points.Bulgarian internationalsRusi Zhelev and Denis Karyagincould not help Macerata – Zhelev finished with 10 points (1 block), and Karyagin was the top scorer for the team with 15 (3 aces). Despite this, their efforts were not enough for a comeback.
Alex Nikolov touched a 9-year-old fan with a message before Lube's match
On the eve of the match between Lube Civitanova and Cisterna in the Italian SuperLega, young national player Aleksandar Nikolov did something far greater than a volleyball attack – he fulfilled a child's dream. Nine-year-old Kaloyan Zhekov, who has been training volleyball for a year, wrote a touching letter to his idol. It was first published on the wall of Vladimir Nikolov, Alex's father. The story quickly caused excitement, and bTV prepared a special report dedicated to the little fan and his volleyball inspirer. For some, an inspirer is a teacher, for others – a writer.But for third-grader Kaloyan, this year's inspirer is holding a volleyball – Aleksandar Nikolov.
Fourth loss for Grotazzolina - this time against Padua of Boris Nachev
Grottazzolina's team, which includes national players Iliya Petkov and Georgi Tatarov, suffered its fourth consecutive loss in the Serie A1 championship after falling 1:3 (22:25, 24:26, 25:X) in an away game against Padua, where another Bulgarian national player, Boris Nachev, plays. The match started evenly, but the hosts managed to go on a run in the middle of the game and took a five-point lead. Although Grottazzolina reduced the deficit to three, Padua maintained control and won the first set. Georgi Tatarov started the match as a starter but was substituted at the end of the first set and did not start in the second. The second set proceeded with complete parity – ties at 14:14, 16:16, 18:18, 20:20, 23:23, and 24:24.
Simeon Nikolov: "I rested well, I am motivated to win again! I already know a few words in Russian"
Bulgarian setter Simeon Nikolov made his first comment after his Lokomotiv Novosibirsk's victory against Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut), with which the Siberian team confidently started the new round of the Russian Super League. After the match, Nikolov spoke to the club media, demonstrating excellent spirits and readiness for the upcoming challenges.
Dimitar Dimitrov led OK Savings Bank with 25 points to a victory over Hyundai Capital in Cheonan
Bulgarian international Dimitar Dimitrov played another impressive match in the South Korean V-League, leading his OK Savings Bank to a convincing 3:1 (24:26, 25:19, 25:22, 25:16) away victory against Hyundai Capital in a match from the 4th round of the championship. With this second win, Dimitrov's team is in fourth place in the temporary standings. The match took place in the Cheonan Yugwansun Gymnasium in front of 3414 spectators and lasted just over two hours. After the hosts won the opening set after a fiercely contested extension, Dimitrov's team showed class and concentration to completely turn the tide of the match.