Eight-time back-to-back champions!

Maritza Plovdiv triumphed with its eighth national championship title in a row and, for the first time in history, the Yellow-and-Blues were crowned in front of a full-house home crowd. In Sunday’s deciding home game at the Sila hall, they delivered a 3-0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-12) shutout of CSKA Sofia in 68 minutes of play time to celebrate as national champions and earn the right to represent Bulgaria in the CEV Champions League again, in the 2022-2023 season. Opposite Silvana Chausheva was honored with the Most Valuable Player award.

Only one of the previous National Volleyball League trophies were lifted in Plovdiv, but that was last year when pandemic-prompted regulations prevented the team from sharing the special moment with its numerous fans.

Maritza added another full season to its incredible winning streak in the NVL, which started back on November 21, 2015 and has already lasted over 137 matches in a row.

The girls from Plovdiv went through their 20 games, 14 in the regular season and six in the playoffs, losing only four sets along the way. The last time that happened was in their 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-18) away victory over CSKA in the first leg of the best-of-three championship series earlier in the week.

In the second-leg game in Plovdiv, Maritza allowed no surprises and got the job done in straight sets. Silvana Chausheva produced the match high of 17 points, adding to the 24 she scored in the first game.

The silver went to CSKA, while last year’s runners-up Kazanlak Volley had to settle for the bronze.

“We expected this title because it is the result of the hard work our players and coaches put in during the season. Now we are celebrating our eighth title, but also wishing for the ninth. We want to continue developing as a club. There are a lot of strong teams in the Champions League and we are trying to grow up to their level. I hope we’ll have more success in Europe next season than we did this year,” Svetoslav Savov, owner of Light Gas, one of the club’s main sponsors, told volleymaritza.bg.

“For me as a head coach, it was nice that I was able to continue what my predecessors had done and reassert Maritza’s position as Bulgaria’s best team and Champions League pool stage regular,” said coach Borislav Krachanov. “To become a national champions is a great experience!”

“We have grown used to winning, but it is still an awesome feeling!” middle blocker Dima Usheva exclaimed. “The atmosphere was great and we thank the spectators. Their support makes us very happy. I hope next season we will continue growing.”

National Volleyball League – results
Maritza v CSKA full match recording