Perfect Bulgarians leave Czechs sweating over qualification
Matey Kaziyski is down but Bulgaria are far from out
Bulgaria
vs
Czech Republic
3
-
1
November 22, Nagano: Bulgaria defeated the Czech Republic to finish the first round unbeaten, and leave the Czechs sweating on qualification for the second phase.
The Czech Republic's hopes of going to Hiroshima were raised when they claimed the first set, but Bulgaria's eventual 20-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-21 win means the Czechs must hope the rest of the day's results go their way.
Bulgaria have no such qualification worries, although the final match of their perfect first round programme saw them forced to recover from a set down for the third time in five matches.
Bulgarian dangerman Matey Kaziyski had begun the final day as the competition's leading server having landed 14 aces, double that of his nearest challenger.
But it was Jan Stokr of the Czech Republic who landed the first one of the day, helping his side to an early 8-5 lead.
Bulgaria showed they would be a force to be reckoned with at the net, with Krasimir Gaydarski and Ivan Zarev scoring solid blocks, but Stokr and Peter Platenik were finding a way through with clinical spiking.
The Czechs then showed their European rivals a clean pair of heels as Michal Rak added his attacking prowess to the mix, and suddenly the unbeaten Bulgarians found themselves 11-5 down.
Coach Martin Stoev called a time-out, and while captain Plamen Konstantinov and Kaziyski began finding their range, the Czechs continued to hold on to their lead.
A Konstantinov ace then whittled it down to just two points, before a Stokr mishit narrowed the gap even further.
Bulgaria were back into the reckoning, and Kaziyski fired a spike off a Czech arm and out to bring the teams level at 16-16.
But the Czechs' blistering early form had not deserted them, and Platenik threw himself at a block to re-establish his side's advantage at 22-19.
Ondrej Hubecek then arrowed in an ace, before Rak rose again at the net to give the Czechs set point.
A Rak ace took care of the rest, as the Czechs claimed the first set.
Having been caught cold in several of their Pool C matches, the Bulgarians were keen to make amends at the beginning of the second set.
Vladimir Nikolov began to rack up the points on both flanks, and Kaziyski was a constant threat all over the court.
Lukas Tichacek and Marek Novotny made sure the Bulgarians' lead was only one point at the first TTO, but powerful play from the group leaders soon widened the gap to 13-10.
But the Czechs stuck with the task, and a block from setter Tichacek helped them overturn the score and take a 14-13 advantage.
It would not stay that way for long, however, as Bulgaria began to turn the screw.
While the Bulgarians were not doing enough to run away from their rivals, they were steadily moving towards the end of the set with their noses in front.
Nikolov gave them set point at 24-21, and Kaziyski came galloping through the centre to crash over the winner.
Czech captain Martin Lebl showed his side were prepared to be patient at the start of the third set, as he prodded over a ball at the net that was just begging to be smashed.
Nikolov and Novotny obliged soon after as both sides kept the opening exchanges tight.
Nikolov was involved in practically every Bulgarian attack, shuttling up and down the right flank like a hare on a greyhound track as he reloaded his spiking arm time after time.
The number 11 was unable to forge a lasting lead for his side, but an amazing return from Zhekov's diving save had Czech coach Hanik Zdenek concerned enough to call a time-out with his team 13-10 down.
Bulgaria held their lead as the set progressed, and Czech frustration was beginning to show as they remonstrated with the referee over a call that put them further behind.
Another foray down the left from Kaziyski gave the Bulgarians set point, and the anguish on Czech David Konecny's face as he skewed the vital spike told its own story.
Nikolov and Stokr traded heavy hits as the fourth set got underway, although it was the Bulgarians who came out at the first TTO with a narrow 8-7 lead.
A Hristo Tsvetanov ace helped Bulgaria extend their advantage at 12-9, although Petr Zapletal fired one back to level for the Czechs at 15-15.
Kaziyski blasted another spike over to immediately snatch the lead, and with their unbeaten record at stake, the Bulgarians never looked like giving it back.
Another Kaziyski drive could not be blocked back into play as Bulgaria reached match point, and a Zhekov ace set the seal on Bulgaria's perfect performance in Nagano.
