2024-07-28 19:24:33
Bulgaria came in second place at the Balkaniad for volleyball players under 16 years of age. Ours have a lot to regret about the fourth game against Turkey, when they could have been proud of the gold. In the end, we lost 2:3 (20:25, 25:16, 25:17, 23:25, 12:15) in the “Hristo Botev” hall. Until the last match of the tournament, the two teams were the only undefeated ones.
The first game started with Bulgarian advantage. We led 5:3 and played with confidence. However, the Turks were not left behind. In addition to equalizing, they took the lead and did not relinquish their lead. They made a serious request to win the part at 14:7. Bulgaria responded with a three-point streak. We kept the lead down to no more than four. And so it continued until the end. It came at 25:20 for Turkey.
The second game had a completely different face. This time the dictation was entirely Bulgarian. Ours disappointed Turkey with 18:10, when it was clear to everyone that nothing was going to happen. The biggest margin of the game came at 23:13. As expected, there was a temporary relaxation in our country, which gave three more points to the Turks. In the end, we deservedly won the part with 25:16.
In the third part, even at a tender age, ours demonstrated what it is to build on success. At no time did they allow the Turks to trouble them. The score was slowly increasing in favor of Bulgaria. When it got to 7:10pm came the only moment of nervousness. Then Turkey scored four points in a row and messed up our game a bit. Several mistakes by the opponent from the kick-off had a great effect on the result. Bulgaria led by 2:1 after 25:17.
The fourth game was a real thriller. Bulgaria started stronger and took an early lead. Ours won 8:4, but the rivals knew that this was their last chance. They reduced their liability to one point. A new Bulgarian assault followed and 14:10. The title looked close, but it wasn’t. Turkey went on a four-point run to tie the game. And unfortunately, he managed to take the lead with a break in 17:15. The most important thing was that the Bulgarian women were not worried. The equalizer came at 18:18. The Turks continued to press us. An ace gave them a 21:19 lead, and then they added the 23rd point. Fortunately for us, their streak ended with a bad kick-off. We were unable to respond with a run and the first game ball came at 24:21. The Turks handed it over themselves with a kick-off. We saved the second one ourselves with a perfect attack – 24:23 for Turkey. However, the third was for the opponent.
The tiebreak started with a successful blocking of Turkey, followed by our two points – 2:1. Bulgaria scored first with 4:2. But in the game of nerves, the Turks turned 10:5, and coach Todorov’s interruptions did not help. Still, hope was alive. And even more emotion in the hall came when we reduced our passive to 9:11. Our chances all but disappeared when Turkey took a 14-10 lead. The Bulgarians saved the first match point. They managed the second one too! There was still hope. Unfortunately, it all ended here – 15:12 for Turkey.
In the first match of the last day, Serbia defeated Romania 3:1 and is third.