Bulgaria pulled off a breathtaking turnaround to secure a place in the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship semifinals, defeating the United States 3-2 in Pasay City, Philippines. After losing the opening two sets, the Bulgarians stormed back with resilience and flair, sealing the victory in a thrilling tie-break.
The spotlight belonged to Aleksandar Nikolov, who delivered a match-high 29 points, including two aces and a block. His younger brother, Simeon Nikolov, only 18, also played a pivotal role in the decisive set, orchestrating Bulgaria’s offense with calmness well beyond his years. Supported by Asparuh Asparuhov (12 points, two blocks) and Iliya Petkov (10 points, 73% attack efficiency), Bulgaria showed grit and unity when it mattered most.
For the United States, Ethan Champlin (17) and Jordan Ewert (15) carried much of the scoring load, while middle blocker Merrick McHenry impressed with 12 points at an 83% success rate. However, Gabriel Garcia struggled with efficiency, converting only 6 of his 30 attack attempts. Despite making fewer errors than Bulgaria, the Americans could not stop the momentum shift once the European side found their rhythm.
With the win, Bulgaria joined an all-European semifinal lineup alongside Czechia, Poland, and Italy. On Saturday, September 27, Bulgaria will battle Czechia for a place in the final, while Poland meets Italy in the other semifinal.
Final Score:
USA – Bulgaria 2:3 (25:21, 25:19, 17:25, 22:25, 13:15)
Top Scorers:
- USA: Ethan Champlin (17), Jordan Ewert (15), Merrick McHenry (12)
- Bulgaria: Aleksandar Nikolov (29), Asparuh Asparuhov (12), Iliya Petkov (10)
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