this is a translation, so may not come out perfect.

https://bulgarica.com/2022/05/07/%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8/%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81-%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BE-%D1%87%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B9%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%BE/


Alex Nikolov – the “wonder child” of volleyball in California and the USA is writing history (+ video)
by Evgeni Veselinov • 05/07/2022 • 0 Comments
Alex Nikolov – Americans call him “BABY BOOM” and “Alexander the Great”, and he launched his team to the final and became the 1st rookie “player of the year”



Alex Nikolov, who is writing history of this powerful but elegant sport of volleyball, in the United States, and especially at Long Beach State University (LBSU), 25 miles south of Downtown in Los Angeles, California. Photo: LONG BEACH STATE UNIVERSITY

May 7, 2022 (Los Angeles) “Baby Boom” – that’s what they call the youngest in the United States who manage to get on the lists of the Greats in sports and life. The nickname in the original is a symbol of “high birth rate in the nation”, but frankly it also means an explosive breakthrough of the young on the “mature scene”! We Bulgarians simply call him “the miracle child” Sashko!

And yes, that’s exactly what they called our boy, and they even added “Alexander the Great” for the 18-year-old Bulgarian Alex Nikolov, who is writing history of this powerful but elegant sport of volleyball, in the United States, and especially at the University of Long Beach State (Long Beach State University – LBSU), 25 miles south of Downtown Los Angeles, California.

This week Alex forever and directly carved his name and that of Bulgaria, on the “parquet with a net”, not only in California, but also in the entire maverick “across the ocean”.

Just the mention of Alex Nikolov makes UCLA coach John Spero “shudder,” he admitted before his matchup with his Long Beach teammates on Thursday, calling the freshman “the best kid in the country.”

Alex Nikolov led top-seeded Long Beach State University to a five-game victory over no one but the #3 seed UCLA team in the NCAA semifinals.

And Nikolov confirmed the words of one of the top coaches “under the net” in the “land of unlimited possibilities.” On Thursday, Alex led top-seeded Long Beach State University to a five-game victory over no one but the #3 seed UCLA team in the NCAA semifinals in their 98th matchup at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles. The “Iron Balkan Lion” literally pulled his colleagues out of the “cauldron”, making 20 dunks, six fumbles, two blocks and three assists to bring his team back into the game, after losing two whole opening games, and to win 3:2 (18-25, 18-25, 25-15, 25-10, 16-14). And so Alex’s team won 9 of the last 11 matches against UCLA and went to the final for the 3rd NCAA title in just 5 years. Although in this match the Bulgarian failed to use his strongest weapon “ace – service point” only once, he has already set a new record at his school, on his way to the final, where he will also equal the school’s single-season record.

It is no coincidence that the commentator of the match mostly paid attention to Alex and kept him “on the screen” in the opening minutes.

“When we talk about key players, it is impossible to start talking about anything without the name of Alex Nikolov, the young man from Bulgaria, who is the strongest (tough) player in America and it is incredible to watch him today.”

The final today turned out to be unbearable for the Long Beach team, who lost to their colleagues from the University of Hawaii (UH) – Rainbow Warriors, and so the UH men’s volleyball team retained their title, after today’s victory in three games.

You will say, “this guy is crazy, what does he write and what does he call Alex – “The Iron Balkan Lion”! “Yes, but NO” dear fans of volleyball and Bulgarian! Exactly, because I personally know what this success is like in this merciless western “jungle”, where I have lived for 22 years. What work, effort and deprivation it costs a Bulgarian child “outside”, “alone, like Uncle Sam”, to succeed in this exceptional competition and NOT an easy life!

“Am I making this up?” NO, my dears, I have felt it and I appreciate it! My son also studied and now lives “outside”, far from me, and he succeeds, and I know exactly what this costs Sasho and his wonderful family!

Alex Nikolov is the son of two former professional volleyball players.

Vlado Nikolov returned to play for Levski in the 2018/2019 season, playing alongside his older son, Alexander (pictured). Vlado also gives advice and support to his second son Simeon, who plays as a distributor.

You know his father Vladimir well, a legend of Bulgarian volleyball, the captain of the national team, who led it to 4th place at the 2012 London Olympics. Vlado Nikolov – 5 times champion of Bulgaria (2 in Italy and 1 in France), 2 times winner of the Bulgarian Cup (3 in France), gold medalist of the Champions League, bronze medalist of the World Cup and the European Championship, winner of the CEV Cup. At the Olympics in China in 2008, together with Matey Kaziyski, he was the most productive player for the “lions”. Also at the World Cup in Italy’2010, when he was declared the “best diagonal in the world”.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, on October 6, 2021, one of Levski Sofia’s most successful young volleyball players – Alexander Nikolov – arrived in the USA to study and play for the University of Long Beach. “The idea came up nearly 3 years earlier and he wasn’t particularly fascinated,” but “as he grew older, he started to think about it, and he came to the decision to leave on his own.”

“Because it’s very important for me to get a good education. And that can’t be done in Europe. University sports in the USA offer both a training program and a high-level education. If things don’t work out with my volleyball or, God forbid, I get a serious injury, I have to have a plan “B,””

Alex spoke about the important step in his life in front of Levski’s club website.

Alexander Nikolov performed excellently in his debut for the American University “Long Beach” at the start of the college championship. Alex started as a starter and was a significant contributor to the 3:0 (25:18, 25:16, 25:23) victory over Harvard. The 205-centimeter receiver scored 13 points (4 aces, 1 block).

Check out the highlights from the match against Stanford on February 25, 2022, where he was measured to have a ball speed of over 72 miles per hour

“The USA is a difficult but very intriguing challenge! I like that I play Volleyball at a high level, but also that I am able to study during the time when I’m not in the gym. I feel in place, and the experience I gain, is different from all the other before that.”

Alex Nikolov is categorical on the website of the European Volleyball Confederation (European Volleyball Confederation – CEV).

“If you have been following volleyball for years, then you remember the name of Vladimir Nikolov – the legendary Bulgarian diagonal from the “golden” generation of the country’s men’s national team. Last year, however, another Nikolov attracted the attention of specialists.” This is what the CEV itself wrote about the Bulgarian playing in the US college volleyball championship.

The University of California is known for its excellent program for developing volleyball players. At Long Beach University, Alex received a full sports scholarship.

Alex Nikolov left Levski Sofia after 5 seasons with the blue team. During this time, he won 4 championship titles and was elected the most valuable player in the youth finals 3 times.

Alexander Nikolov: “Levski will remain in my heart forever, this club means a lot to my whole family.”

Last season, before coming to the States, Alexander was called up to the Bulgarian men’s national team for the first time, won bronze in the men’s Super League with Levski Sofia and won silver in the U19 World Championship.

Alexander Nikolov also participated in the U21 World Championship, where the Bulgarian team finished 6th, and Sasho topped the ranking for “Best Service Performer”.

“My dream remains an Olympic medal,” Alex is confident.

“I don’t know what advice to give. I can’t remember the best advice I’ve ever received. From all my coaches, I remember something that I consider important when it comes to building the character of a champion,” Alex says.

“I value honesty and loyalty the most!” – the Bulgarian “lion cub” is categorical “under the net” in California!

You saw that above, and now it’s time to make a wish!

From the bottom of our hearts, we wish you everything you wish for, Sasha, to happen! Good luck, Alex!
A father in Bulgaria for a son in America

Vladimir and Alexander Nikolov

“Right now, Alex is doing well for his age, but he is not ready to play good volleyball in a strong team. There is no point in him going somewhere and being a reserve, or being in a weak team. The better option for him is to compete with people his age while he studies. We are making a hypothesis – he goes to Perugia, and before him are Matthew Anderson and Wilfredo Leon. And he enters to perform four serves for the entire season. No one benefits from this. Neither he, nor our national team. Right now in America, he is competing with children his age or a little older. The competition is within his power. He solves issues there. Going to a big team from Europe, he will not play. I think he should finish his education and then he will have enough time. "He is now 18 years old. Before he turns 21, he will be able to play for a big team, but that depends entirely on him. American journalists are trying to inflate the image of the team and that's how you get "Alexander the Great", who is actually just an 18-year-old boy chasing his dreams," said Vlado Nikolov, who was a guest on the "Factor" podcast, at the end of April 2022.