Bulgaria U23 Women Defeat Japan in Six-Set Battle

Bulgaria U23 Women handed Japan U23 Women their first defeat of the 2017 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U23 World Championship, winning a hard-fought 4-2 decision on September 11 in Ljubljana. The result was a testament to Bulgaria’s resilience after Japan pushed them all the way.

Japan started brilliantly, with their quick offense and crisp passing producing an early lead. Bulgarian hitters struggled defensively against Japan’s fast system, but a change in serving strategy began to swing the match. Bulgaria’s aggressive jump servings forced Japan into off-balance receptions, giving Bulgarian blockers easy reads at the net.

Turning Point

The match turned after the third set. Japan’s unforced errors crept up, while Bulgaria’s middle attack came alive. Bulgaria won the crucial close sets, including a nail-biting fifth set, before closing out the contest in six sets. It was a result that could well prove pivotal in deciding the final group standings.

For Japan, the loss is a setback, but the team demonstrated plenty of quality and will be eager to bounce back quickly. Bulgaria, on the other hand, walks away with a massive confidence boost after toppling a traditional volleyball power at the U23 level.