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- Poland is off the tournament, Bulgaria to play with Germany
25 September 2013
Bulgaria is the team, which fulfilled quarter finals countries in EuroVolley. Poland lost to Camillo Placi’s team 2-3 (25-22, 25-22, 21-25, 24-26, 16-18). It was a brilliant game of Tsvetan Sokolov who scored 35 points respectively and also nice performance of 22-years-old Grzegorz Bociek, young star of Polish volleyball who ended the match with 26 points.
Match with Bulgaria started with two powerful attacks on the both sides of the net – firstly Grzegorz Bociek spiked well on the right side and after that Lukasz Zygadlo send the ball to Michal Winiarski twice, who finished both actions with accuracy. Poland played smart, however, the nightmare of serve came back to them as well as they wasted so many balls by spiking without a block. After ace of Bulgarian player, Andrea Anastasi called for a time out when there was only one point advantage for his team (14-13). Bulgaria drew by double-block on Bociek for 16-16 and then came to the 18-17. But the game was still close. Nikolay Nikolov spiked for 19-19, though, with great Winiarski and Bociek continued into 21-21. Nikolov committed mistake on attack, then Sokolov did the same, set the score for 23-21. Spectacular spike of Winiarski after Bulgarian triple-block on Kurek allowed Poland’s team to get the victory 25-22.
Neck-to-neck game was continued on the beginning of second part. It started to be Winiarski show again. With so dynamic attack of Georgi Bratoev, Bulgaria led 16-14 on second TTO and it was the first time when any team jumped for more than one point advantage. Camillo Placi took a time out when after great full-speed attack of Bartosz Kurek on block the score equaled for 19-19. Tsvetan Sokolov pointed well, but also Bociek came back to the game with 73 percent effectiveness. Placi called for another time out on 23-21, but his team was unable to rise up. By Kurek spike and again Winiarski’s fast action, Poland won 25-22.
Unexpectedly, Poland lost their spirit in third set. Bulgaria gained fast four points advantage for 8-4. Bulgaria competed well on serve, whilst Poland despite double-substitution with Fabian Drzyzga and Michal Kubiak for Zygadlo and Winiarski did not change anything as Bulgarian advantage was too big. Placi took time out to calm down his team, as Poland started to make up the score. However, nothing could change the run of that part and after failed serve, Bulgaria won 25-21.
Bulgaria stayed on its high-level, not allowed Poles to come back to the match. With few points more, they had this comfort to combine some actions without any risk. Sokolov also continued his great performance. Polish players were powerless and could not manage this part of the game. Kurek won the action on the net with Bratoev and Sokolov, then Aleksiev was blocked on the left wing for 13-15. Few points scored by Piotr Nowakowski were not enough to stop Bulgaria. Finish of the set was very nervous being point for point with any less hit of the ball. At the end, Bulgaria killed Poland 26-24.
Tie break was started stronger by Bulgaria with 3-0, but then Kurek scored successfully along with Winiarski and it came to 3-5. Placi’s team reception and defence failed for a few times, so Poland felt the occasion to fight. They just felt the power and Bulgaria could not stop them on pipes, neither break Poland’s block. Placi’s team equaled the score for 9-9 and came for 10-9, so Anastasi decided to call for a time out. Sokolov hit on the block, then Bociek did the same for 11-11. Crucial moment was when Nowakowski was stopped on double-block for 11-13. Sokolov missed the block on attack (13-13) and Placi took a time out. Unforgivable mistake was caused by Kurek, when he touched the net (14-14). Winiarski tried to attack four times, but eventually he done it successfully for 15-15. Kubiak failed the serve and Bulgaria did not use third match ball. It came to an end in next action when Kurek unfortunately stepped on the line under the net, made Bulgaria to the final with score 18-16 in last set.
Marcin Możdżonek: Of course I would like to say some congratulations for the Bulgarian to get into the quarterfinals. As we promised, it was a great match, when two equaled teams performed well, match full of fight. One-two balls were a crucial today. Fans, organizators – thank you for everything and great accommodation here. There is a right time to think about this adventure as we lost today, we came off the tournament, but I can ensure you, that it is not our last word.
Todor Aleksiev: I’d like to thanks to Poland for this great match with astonishing atmosphere. It was a pleasure for us to be a part of this show. Now we have to prepare for the next match we’ll play tomorrow and another big struggle.
Andrea Anastasi: Congratulations for Bulgaria, because they fight in each match they play. It was a hard clash, full of emotions. I am disappointed with the score, but guys did their best to win it today. I think that one man made a difference today – Sokolov is in my opinion one of the best player in all over the world.
Camillo Placi: It was great match for us because both team were brilliant, playing on their very hi-level. The difference is small, when you look at the score, but on the other hand difference is huge when it comes to be defeated and being a winner. Congratulation for Poland for this performance, thanks for Polish fans for this time, for today’s match. We start to think about tomorrow.
© Polish Volleyball Federation, 2017