For years, Bulgaria has lived in the shadows of Europe’s volleyball powerhouses.
But in the ongoing FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship, the young Eastern European squad is proving it belongs on the big stage — taking down not just one, but two continental giants in back-to-back matches.
Last Saturday, Bulgaria stunned the world by sweeping Germany. On Monday night, they showed even more grit, outlasting a seasoned Slovenian side in a thrilling five-set duel, 25-19, 25-14, 18-25, 23-25, 15-13.
At the heart of this resurgence are the Nikolov brothers — outside hitter Alex and setter Moni.
“It was a lot of pressure, to be honest,” admitted 21-year-old Alex. “It felt like we were facing a completely different team after the first two sets. When they came back, it was tough. But this was a game to qualify for the next stage, so I’m proud of how we responded in the fifth set.”
Alex delivered back-to-back points to give Bulgaria a 13–11 edge late in the decider, tallying his 24th and 25th points of the night. He would finish with 26 overall, capped by the match-winning kill.
Still, it was Moni — the 18-year-old playmaker — who orchestrated Bulgaria’s offense under relentless Slovenian pressure.
“I’m just happy I was able to support my team,” Moni said. “We needed that win, and I’m glad we were able to push through.”
With the victory, Bulgaria — one of the youngest squads in the tournament — punched its ticket to the Round of 16, much to the delight of the Nikolovs.
“This shows we’re a resilient team,” Alex said. “When the pressure hits us, we don’t crumble. We may be young, but we’re starting to gain experience — and learning how to use it.”
Moni echoed his older brother’s sentiments. “I’m glad to see how the team is growing through these challenges. This Bulgarian squad will stay together for the next 10 years, so winning games like this now is really important.”
Bulgaria’s back-to-back triumphs serve as a major morale boost heading into their Pool E finale against Chile on Wednesday at 1:30 PM, where the Nikolov brothers will once again lead their team’s charge for glory.
Nikolov bros, Moni and Alex, share pride as Bulgaria advances to the next phase of #MWCH2025 🏐🇧🇬
📹 @seol_gongchan /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/f8HRrcTutq
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) September 15, 2025
