Blue dynasty: Levski Sofia rule Bulgarian Volleyball once again

Levski Sofia confirmed their status as the dominant force in Bulgarian men’s club volleyball after capturing a third consecutive efbet Super Volley title with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Neftochimic 2010 in Game 4 of the finals in Burgas.

In front of a packed crowd at Mladost Hall, the “Blues” showed composure under pressure to close the series 3-1 and continue one of the most impressive runs in recent Bulgarian volleyball history.

Drama in Burgas

After taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the series, Levski stumbled in the third match, allowing Neftochimic to revive hopes of a comeback. The fourth encounter, however, delivered a final worthy of the occasion, with both sides producing volleyball of the highest level.

Neftochimic relied on an aggressive blocking game and strong defensive organisation, but Levski responded with relentless attacking and confident serving throughout the evening. In the decisive fifth set, the Sofia side demonstrated greater composure in the key moments to silence the home crowd and secure the championship. The atmosphere inside Mladost Hall reflected the intensity of the rivalry, as momentum shifted repeatedly before Levski finally pulled away in the closing stages.

The championship victory became even more memorable for Levski Sofia and its supporters as captain Svetoslav Gotsev announced his retirement after the match, bringing an end to a distinguished career that included successful spells abroad and years of service with the Bulgarian national team.

Skrimov leads the champions

Veteran outside hitter Todor Skrimov once again proved decisive for Levski, finishing with 20 points in the title-clinching victory. Gordan Lyutskanov added 19 points, while Ricardo Junior led Neftochimic with the same tally.

The MVP award for the finals series went to setter Stoil Palev, whose calm decision-making and intelligent playmaking guided Levski through several high-pressure moments during the series.

Individual awards and season leaders

The 2025/26 campaign also highlighted the growing depth of talent across Bulgarian volleyball.

Skrimov enjoyed one of the strongest seasons of his career, earning both Regular Season MVP and Fan Favorite honors. He also finished as the league’s best server with 71 aces.

Levski middle blocker Lazar Bouchkov emerged as one of the league’s breakout performers, posting an impressive 61 percent attacking efficiency.

Meanwhile, Mariyan Nakov of Pirin finished as the championship’s leading scorer with 416 points and received the Stefka Velikova Sportsmanship Award.

Dream Team of the Regular Season

Best Libero: Hristo Kolev (Slavia)
Outside Hitters: Todor Skrimov (Levski Sofia), Erion Bajrami (Deya)
Middle Blockers: Bruno Rubbo (Montana), Lazar Bouchkov (Levski Sofia)
Opposite: Mariyan Nakov (Pirin)
Setter: Vladimir Stankov (Lokomotiv)

A Historic Three-Peat

This latest triumph further strengthens Levski Sofia’s growing legacy in Bulgarian volleyball. After winning previous finals against CSKA in 2023/24 and Lokomotiv Avia in 2024/25, the club has now completed a historic three-peat and established itself as the benchmark team in the country.

Beyond the trophies, Levski’s consistency, experienced leadership, and emerging young talent suggest the club could remain at the top for years to come.

Attention turns to the National Team

With the domestic season now concluded, focus across Bulgarian volleyball shifts toward the national team and the upcoming 2026 Volleyball summer - starting with the Volleyball Nations League campaign and ending with #EuroVolleyM. 

Head coach Gianlorenzo Blengini announced a 31-player extended roster ahead of preparations, which begun on April 27 in the picturesque mountain town of Samokov. Bulgaria, silver medalists at the FIVB 2025 World Championship, will continue preparations with matches against Poland, Ukraine, and Serbia at the Silesia Cup before traveling to Argentina for a final friendly in early June.

The team opens its VNL campaign on June 10 in Brazil, where Bulgaria will face Belgium, Iran, Argentina, and Serbia.

The extended squad includes several players coming off strong domestic and international seasons, including Aleksandar Nikolov, Simeon Nikolov, Asparuh Asparuhov, and newly crowned Levski champions Stoil Palev, Damyan Kolev and Lazar Bouchkov.

With Levski continuing to dominate domestically and a new generation of Bulgarian internationals gaining valuable experience abroad, Bulgarian volleyball appears to be entering one of its most promising periods in recent years.