Ankara, Turkey, August 19, 2015 – Bulgaria clinched seventh rank at 2015 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U23 World Championship in Ankara, Turkey. The Europeans overpowered Thailand in an epic five-setter in 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 17-25, 25-11, 15-8) on Wednesday morning. It was Bulgaria’s third win in their seventh match. For both teams the 2015 tournament was their first experience in a women’s U23 world championship.
Bulgaria’s Gergana Dimitrova finished the game with a match-high of 22 points. Silvana Chausheva chipped in 21 points. Thailand’s Ajcharaporn Kongyot scored 21 points as well.
Except from better Bulgarian passing and serving (5-1 winners in the first set), there was not much to separate the two teams in the opening set. The East Europeans eventually cruised to a hard-earned 25-21 win in the first set.
Thailand found their rhythm in the second set. With five consecutive points from 18-18 to 23-18, the Asian side clinched set two 25-21.
The Asians kept momentum in the third period (25-17) before Bulgaria bounced back in the fourth set (25-12) to move the contest for the seventh place into tie-break.
Bulgaria jumped out for a quick 8-3 and never looked back until 15-8.