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The Bulgarian team fulfilled the role of favourite in their group B match against Montenegro and won 3:0 (25:22, 25:17, 27:25). They had to fight for their win as they were facing two set points in the last part of the game. Outside hitter Todor Skrimov ended the match with a sizzling spike.

Head coach Silvano Prandi made a line-up with only three players shorter than two metres although two of them, spikers Todor Skrimov and Martin Atanasov, were the main scorers for Bulgaria. The players of Montenegro were unable to deal with their quick and precise attacks. Atanasov also served perfectly and in cooperation with opposite Tsvetan Sokolov they won an important first set.

Most of Montenegro’s offense ran through outside spiker Marko Vukasinovic but the Bulgarian defence was able to deal with him. The number of successful Bulgarian attacks was still increasing, they avoided mistakes, and with no further issues won in the second part of the game.

The most even was the last set. Montenegrin players improved their defence and for the very first time they led (9:7 and 14:12). However even a two-point lead was not enough. Bulgaria continued to play a quick game and they had better luck in finishing points. They turned away two set points and ended the game with their first match point.

Veljko Basic, Montenegrin coach: “I think the biggest difference between us and our opponent is that they did not do as many unforced errors as we did. I firmly believe we should have won the last set but unfortunately once again we made a mistake and that cost us this match. In the opening set we were not able to hold a step with them. We had a problem to step back into the game. But after all I am satisfied with the team effort because we showed spirit.”