Osijek, July 7, 2025 – The Europe Today: Bulgaria’s U19 women’s volleyball team pulled off a sensational upset at the FIVB World Championship in Osijek, defeating defending champions the United States in a dramatic five-set showdown (25:15, 16:25, 27:25, 13:25, 15:5). The win, their third in four group stage matches, guarantees Bulgaria a place in the round of 16.
Under the leadership of head coach Atanas Petrov, the Bulgarian squad continues to impress, having already secured victories over Spain (3:0) and Turkey (3:2), a finalist in the previous championship. Their only loss came in the opener against Poland, another tournament heavyweight.
The match against the USA was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts and fierce rallies. After dominating the first set with strong service pressure and a dynamic offense, Bulgaria dropped the second as the Americans surged back. The third set went down to the wire, with Bulgaria clinching it 27:25 on their third set point. Despite a lopsided fourth set in favor of the USA, Bulgaria stormed back with a commanding performance in the decider, finishing the tiebreak 15:5.
Kalina Veneva led the scoring with 18 points, followed by Darina Naneva (15), Denitsa Angelova (14), and both Nikol Okoro and Vyara Parapunova contributing 10 points each. Daria Ivanova’s two aces and precise setting played a crucial role in Bulgaria’s rhythm throughout the match.
The starting lineup featured Dimana Ivanova, Parapunova, Naneva, Okoro, Veneva, Angelova, and libero Viktoria Ninova. Their coordination and resilience, particularly in the fifth set, highlighted the team’s tactical maturity and emotional composure.
With one group match remaining against Peru, currently last in the standings, Bulgaria has a chance to further strengthen its position and potentially secure a more favorable draw in the knockout stages. Possible opponents from Group A include lower-ranked teams such as Mexico, Egypt, Thailand, or Canada, with Croatia and Germany leading that group.
The win sparked jubilant celebrations, as the Bulgarian players honored the moment with a traditional horo dance and proudly waved the national flag — a fitting tribute to a hard-fought and historic victory.
