BULGARIA
Play By Play
SWEDEN
Top Scorer
- 26 - Isabelle HAAK (SWE)
- 17 - Elitsa ATANASIJEVIC (BUL)
- 16 - Gergana DIMITROVA (BUL)
Officials
Ksenija JURKOVIC
Marie-Catherine BOULANGER
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Match Polls
Who will win?Let us know, who you think is going to win?Who will be Top Scorer?Let us know, who you think is going to finish as top scorer?
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Officials
First RefereeKsenija JURKOVICCROSecond RefereeMarie-Catherine BOULANGERBEL
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Venue Information
Kolodruma is the biggest multifunctional complex in Plovdiv, famous with modern architecture and impressive atmosphere. The hall is unique not only being the only covered Olympic-sized cycling track in the Balkans, but also for being able to host 22 sports at the highest level. Kolodruma has also a hall for warm up trainings, press center, locker rooms, coach rooms, LED screens, underground and grand parking for 438 cars. The Arena is connected to four boulevards so getting there is easy. Capacity: 6100
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How To Attend
Naycho Tsanov Blvd., PLOVDIV, 4000 Capacity: 6100
City bus lines that have stops near the arena: 4, 10, 17, 99 PLOVDIV AIRPORT – distance to the hall is 12.2 km, cca. 15 min by car. There’s no public transportation from the airport. SOFIA AIRPORT – distance to the hall by car using highway A1 is 151 km and takes around 1 hour 40 minutes. Get directions
Featured Players
Emiliya DIMITROVA
Bio
Emiliya Dimitrova was born on 26.12.1991 in Shumen. She started playing volleyball when she was only 9 years old in Varna. She had been playing basketball until, but her mother was a big fan of volleyball and suggested she try it. In her free time she likes to be with her family as well as reading books. Biggest achievements is winning the Championship oin Japan and being the MVP.
Isabelle HAAK
Bio
Isabelle Haak was born 11th of July 1999 in Ängelholm. At the age of 14 she made her national team debut. “Bella” has won several national titles in Europe and was the top scorer in the Champions League 2021 and the Club World Championship in 2019. In her spare time she is learning to play the piano.
Head-to-Head
· Bulgaria and Sweden meet for the second time at the European Championships. In 1967, Bulgaria recorded a 3-0 win over Sweden in the group stage.
· These teams have yet to meet at a major world level tournament (Olympic Games, World Championship, World Cup, Grand Champions Cup, World Grand Prix, Nations League).
Bulgaria
· Bulgaria could finish in the top eight at back-to-back European Championships for the first time since recording a top-eight finish at five successive editions from 1995 to 2003.
· Bulgaria progressed to the knockout stage by finishing top of Pool B, winning four of their five matches. The only exception was a 3-2 defeat versus Germany.
· At the 2019 European Championships, Bulgaria defeated Azerbaijan in straight sets to secure their second top-eight finish in the competition since 2005 (also eighth in 2009).
· Bulgaria's four wins in this edition are most for them at a single European Championships since 2001 (5).
· Bulgaria have won seven of their last nine matches at the European Championships, as many as in their previous 30 matches in the competition.
Sweden
· Sweden could record their best finish at the European Championships. Their three previous appearances were in 1967 (15th out of 15 teams), 1971 (15th out of 18 teams) and 1983 (12th out of 12 teams).
· Sweden progressed to the knockout stage by finishing fourth in Pool D. The Swedes started their campaign with two wins (3-2 against Finland, 3-0 versus Romania), before losing their next three in straight sets (against Turkey, Ukraine and Netherlands).
· Coming into these European Championships, Sweden had won only three of their 22 matches in the competition. All three victories were in 1971: against England, Denmark and Austria.
#EuroVolleyW
Team
- YORDANOVA Maria5 Outside spiker
- BARAKOVA Petya8 Setter
- SAYKOVA Borislava9 Middle blocker
- TODOROVA Mira10 Middle blocker
- ATANASIJEVIC Elitsa16 Outside spiker
- MILANOVA Aleksandra19 Outside spiker
BULGARIA 
Address
25 Nezabravka Str. SofiaContacts
Previous Games
| 28/08/2021 | vs. |
2 - 3 | L | Go to Match Centre |
| 25/08/2021 | vs. |
3 - 1 | W | Go to Match Centre |
| 24/08/2021 | vs. |
3 - 0 | W | Go to Match Centre |
- All Time
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31Competitions Played
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2Titles
- Competition
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6Matches Played
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4Matches Won
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67%Win %
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16Sets Won
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533Points Won
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45%Attack %
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36%Reception %
Team
- Birth Date: 1990
- Birth Place: Dupnitsa
- Height: 193 cm
- Birth Date: 1996
- Birth Place: Sofia
- Height: 183 cm
- Birth Date: 1992
- Birth Place: Yambol
- Height: 189 cm
- Birth Date: 2002
- Birth Place: Sofia
- Height: 185 cm
- Birth Date: 1991
- Birth Place: Stara Zagora
- Height: 182 cm
- Birth Date: 1994
- Birth Place: Chirpan
- Height: 188 cm
- Birth Date: 1991
- Birth Place: Shumen
- Height: 185 cm
Staff
Team
- ARRESTAD Elsa1 Middle blocker
- ANDERSSON Sofia2 Setter
- TOPIC Dalila-Lilly8 Middle blocker
- HELLVIG Hanna14 Outside spiker
- LUNDVALL Diana15 Outside spiker
- NILSSON Julia18 Middle blocker
Previous Games
| 31/08/2021 | vs. |
0 - 3 | L | Go to Match Centre |
| 28/08/2021 | vs. |
3 - 2 | W | Go to Match Centre |
| 25/08/2021 | vs. |
0 - 3 | L | Go to Match Centre |
- All Time
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17Competitions Played
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3Titles
- Competition
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13Matches Played
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8Matches Won
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62%Win %
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25Sets Won
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1020Points Won
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38%Attack %
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49%Reception %
Team
- Birth Date: 1997
- Birth Place: Villstad
- Height: 187 cm
- Birth Date: 1994
- Birth Place: Lenhovda
- Height: 188 cm
- Birth Date: 1994
- Birth Place: Lendhova
- Height: 188 cm
- Birth Date: 2000
- Birth Place: Lidingö
- Height: 189 cm
- Birth Date: 1996
- Birth Place: Mulhouse
- Height: 179 cm
- Birth Date: 1997
- Birth Place: Villie
- Height: 190 cm
Staff
Recent Results
BULGARIA
POLAND
(18 - 25, 25 - 21, 25 - 21, 25 - 23)
BULGARIA
CZECH REPUBLIC
(26 - 24, 25 - 12, 25 - 19)
GERMANY
BULGARIA
(25 - 23, 16 - 25, 25 - 21, 18 - 25, 15 - 10)
Team Statistics
Player Statistics
Head to Head
Gergana DIMITROVA
Outside spiker
BULGARIA
Sofia ANDERSSON
Setter
SWEDEN
Isabele Haak of SWE warming up
1994 Ballon D'Or winner, Bulgaria's Hristo Stoichkov with CEV President, Mr. Aleksandar Boričić
Bulgaria team huddle
Nasya Dimitrova (2) and Emiliya Dimitrova (14) celebrating a point
Bulgaria's supporters
A full house in Plovdiv
#EuroVolleyW light show
SWE staff happiness
The happy winners
Gallery
Disclaimer
Photos featured on the CEV Photo Galleries are downloadable copyright free for media purposes only and only if CEV is credited as the source material. They are protected by copyright for all other commercial purposes. Those wishing to use CEV Photo Gallery photos for other commercial purposes should contact press@cev.eu
A historic Quarter Final for Sweden after a five-set drama in Plovdiv
Sweden reached a historic first ever EuroVolley Women Quarter Final after surviving a five-set drama in Plovdiv. Led by the unstoppable Isabelle Haak the Swedes beat hosts Bulgaria 3-2 in a match that lasted 137 minutes.
● The home team made a blistering start winning seven of the first eight points in the match including kill blocks by Hristina Vuchkova and Elitsa Vasileva. The Swedes never got into the set registering modest 38% kill rate in attack while committing four errors.
● After losing their tenth EuroVolley 2021 Women set in a row Swedes finally got on the board in the second after breaking Bulgaria’s reception. Two errors by Gergana Dimitrova and one by Emiliya Dimitrova aided the visitors who also recorded a couple of fluky aces.
● Bulgaria was leading 22-21 in the third set and had a free ball when a block by Dalila-Lilly Topic turned the things around. Two spikes by Aleksandra Lazic put Sweden ahead and on a brink of a shock surprise.
● The Lionesses went on a 7-2 run midway through the fourth set to go up by six points and were never threatened from there. Three kill blocks by Hristina Vuchkova sealed the deal and sent the match into a tiebreak.
● Bulgaria led almost the entire decider and got a couple of match points. However a serve error by Emiliya Dimitrova proved costly. A net error by Elitsa Vasileva gave Sweden a match point and on the third time of asking a spike by Aleksandra Lazic stunned more than 3000 fans in the Kolodruma Hall. Among them – football legend, Ballon d`Or and Golden Boot winner Hristo Stoichkov.
● Isabelle Haak was the top scorer for Sweden with 26 points including 7 in the tiebreak. Elitsa Vasileva registered 17 for Bulgaria while middle blocker Hristina Vuchkova finished with the incredible 8 kill blocks.
Etorre Guidetti"We played a good game. It was a marathon. Yes, they smashed us in the first set but then we became more patient, started focusing on every ball, and making less mistakes. Thus, we also improved our block and attack. We already had our medal when qualifying for the Eighth Finals, now we have our silver medal. Hopefully, we will have another great match. Today we are just happy!"
Head coach, Sweden
Isabelle Haak"We came here without pressure and that was the key, I think. I still have no idea what happened. We struggled for sure but at the end, I am so proud of my team. We are living our dream now. We are qualified for the Quarter Finals. It can't be better than this. I hope that we will manage to play another good game."
Captain, Sweden
Ivan Petkov“We can’t belittle Sweden’s achievement but we were short of people because of illness. We didn’t want to communicate about it because we believed we can get through this. That limited our rotation, not only the starters but backups were ill too. The girls beat Poland but couldn’t pull out today’s match. Somebody must’ve cursed us. The tournament ends on a bitter note but life goes on. I hope the momentum will carry on because Bulgarian people showed that they love the team and believe in it.”
Head coach, Bulgaria
Elitsa Vasileva“I would like to apologize to all our supporters both in the arena and on TV. We let them down. We didn’t fulfil the expectations. We didn’t underestimate the Swedes. Simply, it was too hard physically for us. It was not the only reason for the defeat but it was a significant one. For me personally the physical struggle today was unbearable.”
Captain, Bulgaria
The match in numbers
The combined total number of points scored by both teams throughout the entire match.
The total length of the match, from the first serve through until the last point has ended.
Total number of people in attendance at the venue – taken at the end of the second set.
The combined total number of successful spikes achieved by both teams throughout the entire match.
An average of the two team service reception percentages from the complete match.
The number of successful point winning blocks of BULGARIA compared to SWEDEN.
BULGARIA number of service aces compared to SWEDEN
Errors leading to points of BULGARIA, next to those from SWEDEN
Top Scorer
- 26 - Isabelle HAAK (SWE)
- 17 - Elitsa ATANASIJEVIC (BUL)
- 16 - Gergana DIMITROVA (BUL)
Top Attacker
- 23 - Isabelle HAAK (SWE)
- 15 - Alexandra LAZIC (SWE)
- 15 - Gergana DIMITROVA (BUL)
Top Blocker
- 8 - Hristina VUCHKOVA (BUL)
- 4 - Anna HAAK (SWE)
- 3 - Elitsa ATANASIJEVIC (BUL)
Top Server
- 2 - Isabelle HAAK (SWE)
- 1 - Lora KITIPOVA (BUL)
- 1 - Gergana DIMITROVA (BUL)
Top Receiver
- 8 - Alexandra LAZIC (SWE)
- 5 - Sofie SJÖBERG (SWE)
- 5 - Elitsa ATANASIJEVIC (BUL)