There was only one match of the first World Cup for Spain in 43 years. The girls of Pascual Saurín They were already out of that qualifying phase, but there was still a lot at play against Bulgaria. The selection, winning, climbed several positions in the FIVB ranking to approach the 2027 World Cup and thus maintain what has been achieved so far. A match where the first victory in the history of a World Cup could reach, just the dayMaria Segura retired.
Image of the pavilion in which Spain was going to get its first victory
Suffering, but dominating
The match between Bulgaria and Spain began with everything matched to the slightest detail. Those of Pascual Saurín They had to make the maximum on the defensive plane to be able to make a stop to a Bulgaria that his game passed through the hands of a Stoyanova that was becoming even bigger at times. But that did not doubt Ana Escamilla, nor to a Lola Hernández He did not stop progressing in his game since the World Cup started. This was how they put themselves ahead on the scoreboard with 12-14. The reality is that this little advantage lasted little, Spain had to sweat the fat drop in one of its defenses. An endless rally that ended up falling a few centimeters further from the hands of Escamilla.
Spain had to react again and did it by putting 15-17 on the score Antonina To stop the game. A dead time that seemed not to work and even forced him to ask for a Challenge That he was going to end up giving the reason, Lola had touched that ball. There was no time for regrets, both teams gave their maximum. First Lucia Varela On the network, then Ana Escamilla Taking a brilliant play looking for hands and blockout, they put the maximum of the set with 17-21. Bulgaro's second dead half contained them, but he didn't stop them by closing the first with a direct serve from Lucia Varela.
Lola Hernández celebrating with a shout the points of Spain
Like a clock: Spain displays all its potential
The team was showing its best game to a Bulgarian that had run out of ideas. María Segura I was taking out his wrist to walk and Julia de Paula He joined looking for more points like Block-Out that he got to put 4-11. The selection of Antonina Zetov He was completely broken and was being besieged by Spain. It didn't seem like Leon They were already eliminated seeing how they were playing, they were leaving everything and Until the last moment they seemed to have promised this high level of play.
Lola Hernández It also endangered the Bulgarian reception from the nine-meter line with to a direct serve and several consecutive ones that gave a greater rent to those of Saurín carrying the game to an incredible 9-19. A difference of ten points that Julia de Paula pointed from the attack and that Lucia Varela Protected with the blockade. The 22 -year -old was a wall on the network. And without shocks, also making his best volleyball to date, the end of the second set with 14-25 arrived.
The players of Spain celebrating their great match against Bulgaria
Bulgaria hadn't said his last word yet
Equality returned with the arrival of the third set, but there it was going to be María Segura that he wanted to celebrate his last professional volleyball game. The captain hung from the network and with a penalty put a change of rhythm in the party that Lola Hernández I was also going to take advantage of the same play. Spain was getting out again from the game to a Bulgaria I was suffering a lot. And maybe that's why he took the character a bit in the final moments of the party, obtaining Pascual Saurín To stop the game.
Con Bulgaria Ahead on the scoreboard, yes, at first by a single point, the team was forced to press a little more in a match that had so far had controlled. Even with the 22-20 he had achieved Vesteva forcing to Saurin To stop the game again. There was only one last effort to close the first World Cup in 43 years with a good note. And so it was about being. First a block at a hand of Ana Escamilla And then an attack of María Segura that left Bulgaria without option. Equality returned to the scoreboard with 22-22, but after a good Bulgarian reaction, Dimitrova With the direct serve closed the set by 25-22.
Ana Escamilla celebrating a point at the watchful eye of Patricia Llabrés
The first victory in a World Cup, was at home
You didn't have to miss the opportunity of a victory. And that had to go through the head of all when they saw the fourth set began. Although it started matched, Space He knew how to endure the reaction of a Bulgarian that was throwing the rest in the game. The points of María Segura They were soon supported by the entry into track of María Schlegel With a right scorer. And as in the whole party, Patricia Aranda's connection with the centrals was being sublime. At that time a Lucia Varela hitting two short balls that ended at two points. Spain returned and the difference returned to the score with the 12-16.
Las Volleyball lions They only had to maintain their scoring rhythm and defensive solidity to close what before starting this World Cup seemed like a feat. And now it was almost a demand after the level shown in each and every party. Bulgaria He was already erratic and Spain faced his final moments with a plus in his game. Lucia Varela From the serve he finished breaking the game with 21-14. An end of the encounter that was a matter of time. And so 18-25 arrived. Spain had its first victory in the history of a World Cup.
The Spanish team had achieved the first victory in history in a women's volleyball World Cup. In his second participation, the first that is not by invitation, the girls of Pascual Saurín They managed to take another step in a gradual growth that started 13 years ago. A project that begins to give results, despite the elimination of this World Cup with four points in the classification and plating selections such as Bulgaria, Canada and even Türkiye. The first step of an exciting future.
The Spanish team celebrating the first victory in its history in a World Volleyball World Cup
Technical file
1 – BULGARIA: Paskova, Vuchkova, Stoyanova, Milanova, Dimitrova, Kitipova Y Pashkuleva (L). También Jugaron: Veneva, Krivoshiyska, Nikilova, Stanchulova is Ivanova.
Coach: Antonina Zetov.
3 – España: Safe, Herández, from Paula, Escamilla, Varela, Aranda and Pizà. They also played: Clabrés (L), Lázaro, Gayoso and Schlegel.
Coach: Pascual Saurín.
PARTIAL: 22-25, 14-25, 25-22, 18-25.
Incidents: Party corresponding to the third day of the E of the Women's Volleyball World Volleyball 2025 that was played in the Nakhon Ratchaasima (Thailand) pavilion.
