Bulgarian volleyball champion Maritsa Plovdiv recorded a phenomenal first victory in this year’s Women’s Volleyball Champions League as a visitor of Vasas Obuda Budapest (Hungary) with 3-2 (22:25, 25:17, 25:18, 14:25, 15:8) in their third match from Group B of the elite European club tournament.
The victory was Maritsa Plovdiv’s first in the Champions League in 3 years. With the success, the team is in 3rd place in the provisional standings with 2 points, and Vasas Obuda is 4th with one points. Thus, the women volleyball players of Maritsa Plovdiv took the lead in the battle against the Hungarian women for the third position, which gives the right to participate in the CEV Cup.
The next match in the Champions League for Maritsa Plovdiv is a visit to the Turkish giant Eczacibasi Dynavit, who lost yesterday to Savino Del Bene Scandicci by 1-3 (14:25, 27:25, 25:27, 23:25).
The hosts from Vasas Obuda Budapest led by 5:1 at the beginning of the first game. Maritsa Plovdiv cut their deficit to just one point at 11:12 and tied the score at 18:18 after a block by Ciara Debell. The Bulgarian team also put in some great attacks and good blocking performances. Vasas Obuda Budapest, however, managed to take the first game after 25:22. In the second game, Maritsa Plovdiv played great, taking a 4:2 lead and reaching 11:8. The lead increased to 17:13, and the game was won 25:17 after a successful attack by Ciara Debell. It was also the first game won for Maritsa Plovdiv this season in the Champions League.
In the third game, Vasas Obuda Budapest led 4:2, but Maritsa Plovdiv equalized at 8:8. The Bulgarian volleyball team took a three-point lead at 12:9, and the difference became five points at 18:13. The Bulgarian champion closed the game in his favor after 25:18 after a successful attack by Dobrina Hristoskova. In the fourth game, Vasas Obuda Budapest led with 4:2 points, but Maritsa Plovdiv equalized at 7:7, the Hungarians pulled away with a difference of 13:7. It reached 19:9, and the part ended after 25:14 for the hosts and the match entered a decisive tiebreak.
The tiebreak started off great for Maritsa Plovdiv, who led 4:1, but the Hungarians reduced their deficit to one point at 6:5. The Bulgarian champion made a new series and took the lead with 8:5. Maritsa Plovdiv increased the lead to 11:7, after which closed the match after 15:8 and recorded an outstanding victory.
Iva Dudova became the most useful for Maritsa with 20 points (4 blocks and 43% attack efficiency) for the victory and became the MVP of the match. Ciara Debell added 17 more points (2 blocks, 1 ace, and 37% offensive efficiency) for the win.
For the hosts from Vasas Obuda Budapest, American Taylor Bannister was the top scorer with 27 points (1 ace and 42% attack efficiency), but even her efforts were not enough to win.
In the other matches from the day, PGE Rysice Rzeszow lost as home to Imoco Volley Conegliano by 1-3 (15:25, 15:25, 25:17, 26:28), while Jedinstvo Stara Pazova defeated Volley Mulhouse Alsace by 3-2 (21:25, 25:20, 21:25, 25:18, 15:4) and CSM Volei Alba-Blaj lost to SC Prometey by 2-3 (23:25, 25:21, 25:18, 18:25, 8:15).
Meanwhile, the reigning champion VakıfBank SK lost at home to Vero Volley Milano by 0-3 (17:25, 17:25, 16:25).
