Bulgaria finish Venezuela's winning streak but continue their own
Luis Diaz (VEN) and Matey Kaziyski (BUL) duel in the air
Venezuela
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Bulgaria
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November 19, Nagano: Bulgaria maintained their unbeaten record, and ended Venezuela's in the process, with a 3-1 win in the Nagano White Ring.
The South Americans won the first set after Bulgaria had taken their foot off the gas, but the eastern Europeans roused themselves to a 22-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-17 victory.
The result makes Bulgaria the first team from Pool C to qualify for the second round, although Venezuela can join them if they beat the Czech Republic tomorrow.
Bulgaria looked irresistable straight from the off.
Vladimir Nikolov popped up on the left, then the right, to fire his side into a quick 4-0 lead.
Venezuelan captain Thomas Ereu tried to recover the lost ground, but further attacks from Matey Kaziyski and Plamen Konstantinov ensured the Europeans held their four-point advantage at the first TTO.
Andrey Zhekov blocked the South Americans' route as Bulgaria added more, and a Hristo Tsvetanov ace put his team firmly in the driving seat.
But good blocking by Ernardo Gomez gave the Bulgarians a taste of their own medicine, as Venezuela put the brakes on the leaders' progress.
Ivan Marquez notched more at the net for the South Americans to draw closer, and suddenly the first set did not look such a foregone conclusion.
Luis Diaz took Venezuela to within two points at 20-18, before captain Ereu scored another on the left flank.
The Bulgarians had lost their devastating rhythm, and Gomez scorched a spike off European fingers and out to give his side the lead for the first time at 22-21.
Carlos Tejeda came off the bench to give Venezuela set point at 24-21, and Marquez leapt at the net to cap a dogged first set comeback.
The South Americans were determined not to give their opponents such a head start as the second set got underway.
Ereu got up for a mighty block, and Fredy Cedeno arrowed in an ace as Venezuela looked to continue their first-set form.
But Bulgaria were not going to be swept aside, and headed into the first TTO 8-6 ahead after powerful play from Nikolov and Kaziyski.
The big guns were beginning to take over on both sides.
Cedeno and Diaz blasted away for Venezuela, while Konstantinov and Kaziyski returned fire for the Bulgarians
When the smoke had cleared, an ace from Kaziyski edged the Europeans into the second TTO 16-13 ahead.
The number 6 then repeated the trick, before Evgeni Ivanov's prowess at the net persuaded Venezuela coach Eliseo Ramos to take a time-out with his team 18-13 down.
Diaz followed up with another big smash, but Bulgaria were not going to let the South Americans back into the set this time.
Soon they had set point, and Kaziyski finished the job
Bulgaria made yet another strong start to the third set, blocking well and taking their chances to establish an early 5-2 lead.
Ivanov in particular looked to be enjoying himself as he led a fist-pumping celebration at 11-7.
Venezuela were hanging in there, though, but overtaking their rivals was proving to be too difficult.
Kaziyski showed why as he pummelled in yet another sledgehammer down the middle, and Ramos called a time-out with his team 19-15 down as he tried to figure out a way to take control of the set.
The break must have done them good, as Venezuela came back into the reckoning only one point behind at 23-22.
But Bulgaria were not to be denied, and Tsvetanov blocked to kill off the fightback.
Bulgarian setter Zhekov added a nice moment of subtlety among the crossfire early in the fourth set, hooking to ball down to fool the waiting defence.
Nikolov then bagged himself another ace as Bulgaria stretched away from their rivals.
Marquez rose at the net to keep Venezuela at least within sight at 17-13 behind, but another pair of Nikolov aces brought Bulgaria closer to the match.
The chance eventually came as another Nikolov effort was blocked out, and Kaziyski clinched qualification with a spike on the left.
