Bulgarian women’s national team star Elitsa Vasileva had arthroscopic surgery on her right shoulder on March 21, the first step in her recovery from the injury suffered in the Russian Superliga playoffs.
The 6-4 1/2 outside hitter posted a positive note to her fans, even joking about the reasoning for her injury.
She later posted a photo of her support group, including her agent Steve Barbierii and fellow volleyball player Aleksandar Atanasijevic.
Vasileva suffered the injury in Dinamo Kazan‘s sweep of Sakhalin and will not return to the team this season. Kazan advanced to the Russian Superliga semifinals with the victory.
The outside hitter has been with Kazan since 2015 after stops in Bulgaria (CSKA Sofia 2005-07), Italy (Esperia Cremona Pallvolo 2007-09; Sirio Perugia 2009-10); Bergamo 2010-12), Brazil (Campinas 2012-13); Korea (Pink Spiders 2013-14) and Turkey (Vakifbank 2014-15).
With Kazan, Vasileva won the CEV Cup in 2017 and Russian Cup titles in 2016 and 2017. She was the top scorer in the Euroleague with the Bulgarian national team in 2012 and won two silver medals (2010, 2012) and two bronzes (2011, 2013).
Despite the injury, the club season rolls on and Dinamo Kazan will face Imoco Volley Conegliano in a pair of Champions League matches, March 23 (L 3-0) and April 4 before returning to Russian Superliga action against Dynamo Moscow April 16 and 17.
Kazan played 18-year old Anna Kotikova in Vasileva’s place against Imoco.
It is unknown if Vasileva will be back to full form to play with the Bulgarian national team at the World Cup in Japan in October.
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