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Latest news from the world of volleyball
Poland became a hospital before the final, Grbic angry at the head of the local Olympic Committee
Almost half of the Polish national team's starting lineup may not play in the Olympic Games final in Paris, Polish media trumpet. On Saturday, the Polish national volleyball team will play its most important match. In the long-awaited Olympic final, the white-and-reds will face the French national team. However, coach Nikola Grbić and the rest of the staff have to deal with a very serious problem - injuries! It may happen that almost half of the squad that started the most important matches in the group stage and quarterfinals will not be able to play in the final.The most serious injury is that of Paweł Zatorski.
Iveta Stanchulova returns to CSKA
Iveta Stanchulova returns to CSKA to strengthen the vice-champions before the European tournaments, volleyweek.bg learned. The outside hitter is a product of the "reds," where she began her career in the 2018/19 season. Iveta played for DKS Varna in 2020/21, after which she had an international career, playing for clubs in France, Finland, and Hungary. Most recently, the volleyball player, born in 1997, played for Romanian Constanta, where opposite Simona Nikolova will compete from this season. Photo: CEV and Facebook
Italy gave no chance to Turkey and is in a historic first Olympic final
Paola Egonu and Myriam Sylla led Italy to a historic first final at the Olympic volleyball tournament, after the "Squadra Azzurra" beat Turkey cleanly 3-0 (25:22, 25:19, 25:22). This happened for the second time in four days (Italy defeated Turkey in the group stage 3-0). Egonu scored 24 points (1 block and 2 aces), Sylla added 12 (1 ace). Middle blocker Sara Fahr was also excellent with her 9 points (4 blocks). Three blocks were added by Italy's other middle blocker - captain Anna Danesi, who finished with 6 points.
The USA stopped Brazil and will play to defend their Olympic title.
Defending champions USA will face Italy or Turkey for the gold medals on Sunday, after defeating Brazil, who had not lost a set in their matches until now. After many twists and turns and moments of dominance for both sides in the first four sets, the Americans came back stronger in the tie-break and made a dramatic 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 25-15, 23-25, 15-11).The final set was the most tense, as the teams battled it out from the start and equalized twice - 6:6 and 7:7. The Americans were the first to score the eighth point, after which the Brazilians equalized again. From that moment until the end of the match, the Americans dictated play on the court and did not allow a comeback. Kathryn Plummer sealed the match with a good block-out for 15:11, sending her team to a second consecutive title final.
Elitsa and Alexander Atanasievich train in the "Levski Sofia" hall.
Elitsa Vasileva, who is continuing her career with Turkish club Fenerbahçe, is keeping in shape with the help of her husband Aleksandar Atanasijević, who recently returned from participating in the Olympic Games in Paris with the Serbian team. This is happening at the Levski Sofia hall in the capital, according to our elite club. Elitsa has long highly appreciated the conditions at volleyball club Levski Sofia, and today her husband Aleksandar also shared his good impressions. Baby Teo was also present at the training session. Elitsa Vasileva attended two of the matches of the national men's U18 team, which took place in the Levski Sofia hall, and it was probably then that she got the idea of where to maintain her athletic form!
Kaya Nikolova moves to Maritsa, will play in the Champions League
CSKA's middle blocker Kaya Nikolova will transfer to the ranks of champion Maritsa Plovdiv, volleyweek.bg has learned. Nikolova is owned by CSVK and was loaned to the 'Reds', where she played for the last two seasons. Kaya made a decent debut with the women's national team in the VNL this summer when Lorenzo Micelli surprisingly called her up for the third week of the commercial tournament. Currently, Kaya is with the U20 women's national team, who are playing in the home European Championship, but she is not in the starting six. Maritsa was forced to look for a middle blocker after it became clear that European champion Darina Naneva would play in Serbia next season.At the same time, information appeared on the champions' website that volleyball player Aleksa Emilova, from the VC Maritsa (Plovdiv) academy, will be part of the women's team for the 2024-2025 campaign.
France was merciless against Italy and is one step away from defending its Olympic title
France dispatched Italy in front of over 10,000 fans with a 3:0 victory (25:20, 25:21, 25:21) and will play against Poland in an attempt to defend their Tokyo 2020 title.The beginning of the match in no way foreshadowed its end. In the first set, the teams locked horns, with the hosts taking the lead after the 13th point and not relinquishing the initiative until the end. Clevenot closed the set with a pipe attack. In the second part, the Italians even led briefly after 12:12, but managed to maintain their fragile lead only until 18:18, after which the French stepped on the gas and closed the set 25:21 after an ace from Clevenot. Disheartened by the result, the Italians failed to take the lead even once in the third set.
Bulgaria recorded only 4 points in the tie-break of their match against Spain and registered a second loss at the European Championship.
Bulgaria suffered a second defeat at the U20 Women's European Volleyball Championship held in Sofia. Borislav Krachanov's girls lost to the Spanish team 2:3 (15:25, 25:16, 25:16, 25:21, 4:15). In the tie-break, our team managed to score only 4 points.Right at the start, the Spanish took a 5:2 lead. Although Bulgaria managed to equalize at 6:6, our reception problems were evident. A series of eight consecutive points for the opponent followed.
After 48 years, Poland is once again in an Olympic volleyball final
Poland qualified for the final of the men's Olympic volleyball tournament after a dramatic 3:2 (25:23, 25:25, 14:25, 25:23, 15:13) victory over the USA. This comes 48 years after their victory in the final of the Montreal Olympics in 1976. Since then, "Druzyna Polska" (the Polish team) has not participated in the medal distribution.Wilfredo Leon was outstanding, playing a very strong match just in time to score 26 points (2 blocks and 2 aces) for the win. Huber finished with 15 points and Fornal with 13. Captain Kurek, for whom these Olympics might be his last, scored 11 points.
Libero Simeon Dobrev returns to "Dunav", Ruse residents await signature of receiver, Latvian national
National team libero Simeon Dobrev returns to "Dunav", volleyweek.bg learned. Dobrev was on loan to "Neftochimic", where he spent two seasons. The Ruse team continues with their selection for their new season in the elite, awaiting the signature of a receiver from Latvia, who was their national team player. Negotiations continue for a setter and another player from Europe.