Bulgaria Advances to FIVB World Championship Quarterfinals After Sweep of Portugal

In a powerful performance coinciding with Bulgaria's Independence Day, the Bulgarian men's volleyball team dominated Portugal with a 25-19, 25-23, 25-13 victory during the Round of 16 at the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Bulgarian outside hitter Martin Atanasov made a significant impact late in the third set, delivering a critical block against Rafael Santos that extended Bulgaria’s lead to 14-5, a margin that the team maintained en route to sealing the match. This win marks Bulgaria’s return to the quarterfinals stage for the first time in 15 years, during which they previously ranked seventh overall in the 2010 tournament.

Setter Moni Nikolov, who provided an impressive 23 assists, expressed immense pride in the team’s achievement, highlighting the effort invested by the squad and the national federation to rebuild and strengthen Bulgarian volleyball. "It means quite a lot just because of the work that we put in. Our federation and national team are initiating a new era, and reaching the quarterfinals demonstrates that effort," Nikolov said.

He also reflected on the legacy of his family, sharing, "I’m proud of me and my brother. We’re trying our hardest to continue our family name Nikolov. Hopefully, we can win a medal at this tournament, but if not, I know we’ve given it our all and he should be proud of us for that."

Aleksandar Nikolov contributed a match-high 19 points with a versatile performance that included attacks, a kill block, an ace, and defensive digs. Other notable contributors were Atanasov and middle blocker Aleks Grozdanov, who added nine and eight points, respectively.

Looking ahead, Bulgaria will face the winner between the United States and Slovenia in the quarterfinals, with the Americans and Slovenians still competing at the time of reporting. Moni Nikolov remained cautious about their next opponent, acknowledging the challenge ahead: "Both teams are very strong and experienced. We just have to give everything we have. Hopefully, we win and make history. We’re going to give it our hardest."

The upcoming match promises an intense battle as Bulgaria aims to continue its impressive run and further cement its place among the world’s top volleyball teams.