Bulgarian Superliga 2013/2014

    By Levski you mean Simeon Aleksandrov :serve:

    18th round:


    18-February


    CSKA - Marek Union-Ivkoni 0-3 (15-25, 19-25, 20-25)
    Dobrudzha 07 - Slavia 3-1 (25-27, 27-25, 25-17, 25-15) stats


    19-February


    Dunav - Botev (Lukovit) 2-3 (26-24, 17-25, 25-20, 18-25, 11-15)
    Levski Ball - Pirin 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-23) stats
    Montana - Neftochimik 2010 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-21) stats
    Arda - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo 1-3 (27-29, 22-25, 25-18, 19-25)


    Standings:


    1 - Marek Union-Ivkoni (-1) 50
    2 - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo (-1) 42
    3 - Montana 37
    4 - Levski Ball 36
    5 - CSKA 27
    6 - Pirin 27
    7 - Dobrudzha 07 25
    8 - Neftochimik 2010 24
    9 - Arda 24
    10-Botev (Lukovit) 14
    11-Slavia 12
    12-Dunav 3

    The game Pirin vs. CSKA from the previous round has been officially listed as forfeited. A 3-0 score will be applied with 25-0 in each set.

    19th round:


    21-February


    Slavia - Marek Union-Ivkoni 0-3 (13-25, 20-25, 14-25) stats
    Coco Volley Club Gabrovo - Dunav 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-13) stats
    Neftochimik 2010 - Arda 2-3 (25-18, 26-24, 22-25, 21-25, 11-15) stats


    22-February


    Botev (Lukovit) - Dobrudzha 07 1-3 (25-20, 19-25, 12-25, 11-25) stats
    Pirin - Montana 1-3 (25-21, 21-25, 14-25, 22-25) stats
    Levski Ball - CSKA 3-1 (23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-21) stats


    Standings:


    1 - Marek Union-Ivkoni (-1) 53
    2 - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo (-1) 45
    3 - Montana 40
    4 - Levski Ball 39
    5 - Dobrudzha 07 28
    6 - CSKA 27
    7 - Pirin 27
    8 - Arda 26
    9 - Neftochimik 2010 25
    10-Botev (Lukovit) 14
    11-Slavia 12
    12-Dunav 3

    Levski with an important and prestigious win in the derby of Sofia against CSKA. Now they are probably favourites versus Montana, they play in Sofia in the next round in a direct match for the third place in the ranking. Montana also took three very difficult points in Razlog, a normally inhospitable hall to play in. However, Levski has gained a momentum, I think chances are 60-40 in favour of Levski.


    Tomorrow Marek takes on Gabrovo in a postponed game from the 10th round. It's the first match this season between the two teams. Marek has a huge lead ahead of their visitors, it would not be that dramatic in terms of points, but rather to see whether Gabrovo can oppose to the otherwise unbeaten Marek.


    Neftochimik officially hit the bottom after they let a 2-0 lead at home pass against their table rivals Arda. This is undoubtedly the lowest ranking of the team in years, I wasn't born when they last sucked that much. On the weekend Neftochimik travel to Ruse to meet Dunav, another defeat might actually end their playoff ambitions, which would be excruciating in what started as a normal season.


    Dobrudzha with a serious climb in the table. They have some difficult games coming up however, my prediction is that they won't keep this fifth position for too long. Perhaps the last round match against Pirin will place one of the teams above the other.

    10th round (postponed game):


    25-February


    Marek Union-Ivkoni - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo 3-0 (29-27, 25-21, 25-18 ) stats


    Relatively little drama in the derby of the regular season. Marek are surely finishing first and it seems to me only Levski is currently capable of threatening their third consecutive title. I would want Levski to finish fourth and face Marek in an eventual semifinal, but there is a high chance they make it to the third position and cross paths with Gabrovo instead.

    With better coach Gabrovo would be the favorite, they have better selection. Balki for example is considered for the NT and here he disappoints in this match. Bad coaching.

    20th round:


    28-February


    Dunav - Neftochimik 2010 0-3 (18-25, 22-25, 16-25)
    CSKA - Slavia 3-0 (25-23, 25-15, 25-12)
    Marek Union-Ivkoni - Botev (Lukovit) 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-8 ) stats
    Levski Ball - Montana 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-23)
    Arda - Pirin 3-0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-18 ) stats


    01-March


    Dobrudzha 07 - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo 3-2 (23-25, 27-25, 29-27, 16-25, 15-5) stats


    Standings:


    1 - Marek Union-Ivkoni 59
    2 - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo 46
    3 - Levski Ball 42
    4 - Montana 40
    5 - CSKA 30
    6 - Dobrudzha 07 30
    7 - Arda 29
    8 - Neftochimik 2010 28
    9 - Pirin 27
    10-Botev (Lukovit) 14
    11-Slavia 12
    12-Dunav 3

    Levski Ball, Arda and Dobrudzha with the wins of the round. Levski, as I successfully predicted this time, beat Montana and reached the third position. They should have no problems keeping it. Arda's win against Pirin gives them good chances in the battle in the middle of the table, I didn't think they would even make it without Mitev. Pirin is currently out of the playoffs. Five teams fight for four playoff spots and are within only three points with two more rounds to go. Dobrudzha's unexpected victory at home against Gabrovo, the recent disappointment, puts them in a good mood before two very crucial last games against Neftochimik away and Pirin at home. Neftochimik finally scored three points, but it might too little, too late. They have a must-win match against Dobrudzha in Burgas and then travel to Dupnitsa to close the regular season versus Marek. If they don't take three points tomorrow, they will be very likely out of the playoffs for the first time in years.


    What is happening between the fifth and the ninth place is indeed more interesting than the other games.

    21st round:


    04-March


    Botev (Lukovit) - Slavia 3-1 (25-18, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22) stats
    Coco Volley Club Gabrovo - Marek Union-Ivkoni 0-3 (16-25, 23-25, 17-25) stats
    Neftochimik 2010 - Dobrudzha 07 3-2 (25-20, 22-25, 25-18, 15-25, 15-10) stats
    Pirin - Dunav 3-0* (25-0, 25-0, 25-0 )
    Levski Ball - Arda 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-13) stats
    Montana - CSKA 2-3 (21-25, 19-25, 31-29, 25-23, 12-15) stats


    Standings:


    1 - Marek Union-Ivkoni 62
    2 - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo 46
    3 - Levski Ball 45
    4 - Montana 41
    5 - CSKA 32
    6 - Dobrudzha 07 31
    7 - Neftochimik 2010 30
    8 - Pirin 30
    9 - Arda 29
    10-Botev (Lukovit) 17
    11-Slavia 12
    12-Dunav 3


    * on forfeit


    Dunav did not travel to Razlog for the game against Pirin. The reasons are understandable, but highly unprofessional. Ruse and Razlog are situated in the northern and south-western part of Bulgaria respectively, so the long distance was mentioned as an excuse. They will surely be sanctioned for such a decision.

    FROM NOW tells you MAREK CHAMPION! :cup: :cup: :cup: :dance4: :dance4: :dance4:

    Quote from YavorD

    I think we have a prophet over here

    ha ha I'm not a prophet, but a realist ... Marek no one to stop them :tzz: :tzz:

    22nd round:


    08-March


    Dobrudzha 07 - Pirin 3-2 (25-12, 34-36, 21-25, 25-22, 15-9) stats
    CSKA - Botev (Lukovit) 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-15) stats
    Slavia - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo 0-3 (19-25, 23-25, 19-25)
    Marek Union-Ivkoni - Neftochimik 2010 3-2 (23-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-14, 15-10) stats
    Dunav - Levski Ball 0-3 (15-25, 20-25, 23-25)
    Arda - Montana 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-23)


    Standings:


    1 - Marek Union-Ivkoni 64
    2 - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo 49
    3 - Levski Ball 48
    4 - Montana 41
    5 - CSKA 35
    6 - Dobrudzha 07 33
    7 - Arda 32
    8 - Neftochimik 2010 31
    9 - Pirin 31
    10-Botev (Lukovit) 17
    11-Slavia 12
    12-Dunav 3

    The quarterfinal playoffs start on 20th March. The couples are:


    (1) Marek Union-Ivkoni vs. (8 ) Neftochimik 2010
    (2) Coco Volley Club Gabrovo vs. (7) Arda
    (3) Levski Ball vs. (6) Dobrudzha 07
    (4) Montana vs. (5) CSKA

    Before the playoffs start, we are having the Cup games this weekend. The two semifinals and today's final are played in Sofia.


    Bulgarian Cup 2013-2014


    "Hristo Botev" sports hall, Sofia


    Semifinals:


    14-March


    Marek Union-Ivkoni - Dobrudzha 07 0-3 (22-25, 22-25, 23-25) stats
    Levski Ball - Montana 3-1 (29-31, 25-17, 25-19, 25-15)


    As you can see, the previously undefeated league leader Marek got thrashed in straight sets by Dobrudzha! It has been the total surprise of the tournament so far. An undisputed title favourite, Marek will now have to fight back in the playoffs. My favourite for the final today is Levski. If they win the Cup, they might even have the momentum to challenge Marek for the championship.

    Quarterfinal playoffs:


    19-March


    Coco Volley Club Gabrovo - Arda 3-0 (1-0) (25-18, 25-14, 25-18 ) stats


    20-March


    Levski Ball - Dobrudzha 07 3-1 (1-0) (25-20, 25-22, 24-26, 25-14) stats
    Montana - CSKA 1-3 (0-1) (22-25, 20-25, 25-11, 20-25) stats


    21-March


    Marek Union-Ivkoni - Neftochimik 2010 3-0 (1-0) (25-23, 25-14, 25-18 ) stats


    22-March

    Arda - Coco Volley Club Gabrovo 0-3 (0-2) (20-25, 21-25, 16-25) stats


    Coco Volley Club Gabrovo is the first semifinalist.