The long-awaited matches from the Volleyball League of Nations in Kolodrum Plovdiv have begun! In the first match Iran beat Serbia 3:1 and headed the provisional standings in the tournament, and in front of the crowded tribunes, Bulgaria beat the United States with the same result and secured a place in the race for the next year. Here are details of the duels:
Iran recorded the 11th victory in the Volleyball League of Nations. The Persians beat Serbia 3:1 (25:23, 26:28, 25:22, 25:19) in a 19th round of the race in Plovdiv.
Igor Kolakovic's volleyball players are again the leader with 33 points (11 wins, 2 losses), the 11th with 14 points (5 successes, 8 defeats).
The top performer was Amir Gafur with 25 points (1 ace, 2 blocks), Puria Feyazi added 12 points (1 ace, 2 blockades). For Serbia, Srecko Lysinac ended 17 points (4 blocks), with 14 points scored by Drazen Lupuric (1 block).
Bulgaria's men's national team recorded a fifth success in the Volleyball League of Nations after defeating the bronze medalist from last year's US 3:1 (21:25, 25:19, 25:23, 25:23).
The duel started with an advantage for the Bulgarian team, after which the "Yankees" leveled. Several times there was an exchange of roles, after which Robert Neilson's rivals broke with a good lead. Bulgaria managed to reduce the distance but USA took the lead after 25:21 and won the first game.
The "Lions" started strong in the second part, keeping their domination to 8:7. The North Americans were able to catch up, but the solid play of Silvano Prandi's boys on service and blockade increased the lead again and gave peace. By the end the "tricolors" had no particular problems and at 25:19 they returned to the game, forming a 1:1 game.
The beginning of the third game repeated somewhat the second, keeping the situation in the middle. Subsequently, the Americans picked up momentum and went ahead with a good lead, which rose to 5 points at 16:11. A series of our boys created an intrigue for 16:16 and the fight continued in the next minutes until 20:20. The Yankees once again tried to take things in their own hands, but the attacks of the "lions" turned things to their advantage.
The fourth part was under the dictation of the Bulgarian team for the most part, and in the key moments the bronze medalists from last year's edition managed to overcome the opponent and stick tightly. Silvano Prandi's volleyball players showed strong will and spirit and scored the final success after 25:23 and 3: 1 games.
Tsvetan Sokolov scored 20 points (2 aces), 10 points added Nikolay Nikolov (3 blocks). For the US Benjamin Patch finished 22 points, Thomas Jaecheck scored 13 points (3 aces).
The native team is ranked 12th with 13 points (5 wins, 8 defeats), Americans are eighth with 22 points (7 successes, 6 losses).
On the second day, June 30, Serbia will face the US at 17:00, and Bulgaria will seek success against Iranian leader from 20:40.
Match tickets are sold online at ticketportal.bg as well as in the partner network at OMV, Booktrading bookstores, Office 1 Superstore. The passes are divided into three categories according to the places in the hall and their prices are 10, 15 and 20 levs per day. In Plovdiv, tickets are also sold at the House of Culture, and during the games days (28, 29 and 30 June) and at the Kolodrom Hall, which is open from 14:00.
