The Bulgarian women's national volleyball team defeated Thailand 3:2 (26:24, 25:13, 21:25, 22:25, 15:9) in their last match of the week in Hong Kong in the League of Nations. Antonina Zetova's team could have achieved a clean victory, after leading 2:0 in the first game and 12:6 in the third, but the Asian team collapsed and rose. This is the first victory for Bulgaria in Hong Kong in four matches and a third success in total during the season in the League of Nations. After this match, the team temporarily came in 11th place in the standings with 9 points - three wins and five losses, BTA reported.
Bulgaria's coach Antonina Zetova started with a lineup: Alexandra Milanova, Lora Kitipova, Nasya Dimitrova, Hristina Vuchkova, Radostina Marinova, captain Elitsa Atanasijevich and libero Galina Karabasheva.
The first point of the match was for the Bulgarian team after Elitsa Atanasijevich was released. At the beginning, the match moved point by point, with Bulgaria first opening a gap at 6:4, and then leading with 10:7, which caused a break in the opponent's camp. With attacks by Radi Marinova and Atanasijevich, we reached 13:9. However, the Thai team scored four consecutive points, which tied the score, and Zetova interrupted the game to give tactical instructions to the team. The Bulgarian team again made a turnaround with a block and an attack in front of Vuchkova's center. The opponent did not give up and another draw was reached - 20:20, and coach Zetova again reacted with a timeout. Bulgaria was the first to reach a game ball after a successful block - 24:23. Marinova made a mistake in her serve, but the team regained the lead after releasing the distributor Kitipova, and then with another block Bulgaria took the lead after 26:24.
And in the second half the first point was for Bulgaria with an attack by Hristina Vuchkova through the center. The home team went through 4:1 and 8:4. The difference led to a break for the Thai team. The dynamics of the Bulgarian team continued and after an attack by Alexandra Milanova and an out by the Thais, the biggest difference in the match so far was reached - 11:5. Nasya Dimitrova made an ace from a service for 18:11 and immediately after that a new point for Zetova's team from a block followed. With more strong serves and blocks, Bulgaria took a serious lead - 22:11. Bulgaria closed the half with 25:13 after a powerful attack from zone 4 by Alexandra Milanova.
Bulgaria also took the lead in the third set with a single block by Marinova. The Bulgarian team reached a break point for 4:2. An attack by Vuchkova through the center led to 7:4 and the coach of Thailand took a break. A series of Nasya Dimitrova's serve led to a 10:4 lead. Then there was a short interruption of the match due to technical problems with the points. After the interruption, Thailand realized three consecutive points, including one from an ace, which caused a break by Antonina Zetova. The opponent again made three unanswered points for 12:12. The point-by-point game continued, with Thailand on the rise and starting to play with spirit, leading with 16:15. The difference for the Asians became two points after an attack in the out by Nasya Dimitrova. Bulgaria lost the initiative, and the opponent led 20:17, which led to another break for the Bulgarian coach. Thailand reached a game ball at 24:20 and reduced the difference in games to 1:2 after 25:21.
The match went point for point in the fourth game. Bulgaria took an advantage after an attack by Atanasijevich over the block - 8:5. The opponent equalized again, making one of its few successful blocks, and then took the lead in the score. It reached 11:9 for the Asians after an ace. Thailand also won the longest rally of more than 40 seconds for 12:9. Antonina Zetova interrupted the game to change the course of the match. Last unsuccessful challenge for Bulgaria at 18:16 for Thailand. Bulgaria equalized after a counterattack by Radostina Marinova. The home team made a turnaround for 20:19 after a block and Thailand took a break. The opponent came ahead after a block - 22:21. Thailand also took the fourth game with 25:22, with the match going to a tiebreak.
Bulgaria took the lead in the tiebreak after an out of serve from the opponent, but the Asians tied after a long game. At 6:5 for the home team, Thailand took a break. After a serve by Atanasijević, the lead reached 9:6, which caused another timeout for the opponent. Elitsa Anastavijevic made three consecutive successful attacks for 11:6. The thirteenth point came with a serve by Hristina Vuchkova. After a break point for Thailand, Zetova took a break. Nasya Dimitrova scored through the center for 14:9 and we reached five match points. The team scored the first after Atanasijevich's attack on the block and out.
The most productive player for Bulgaria was captain Elitsa Atanasijevich, who finished with 19 points, Nasya Dimitrova added 18, and Hristina Vuchkova and Radostina Marinova - 16 each. Varisara scored 15 points for the Thai team.
In the last week of the tournament, Bulgaria's rivals will be the teams of Brazil, France, the Republic of Korea and Poland.