Preslav Petkov (Bulgarian: Преслав Петков; born 28 October 2003) is a Bulgarian volleyball player who plays as a middle blocker for SWD powervolleys Düren in the German Bundesliga and represents the Bulgaria Men’s National Volleyball Team. He joined Düren in 2026 after spending his first season abroad with Romeo Sorrento in Italy’s Serie A2. Before moving overseas, he developed with Levski Sofia and had two loan spells with Pirin Razlog.
Petkov won the Bulgarian championship and Super Cup with Levski in 2023–24. At international level, he was part of Bulgaria’s bronze-medal team at the 2022 CEV U20 European Championship and later won silver with the senior national team at the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship. During that World Championship run, he scored the match-winning block against Portugal in the round of 16 and contributed from the bench in Bulgaria’s semifinal victory over Czechia.
Player Information
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Preslav Petkov |
| Native name | Преслав Петков |
| Date of birth | 28 October 2003 |
| Place of birth | Etropole, Bulgaria |
| Nationality | Bulgarian |
| Position | Middle blocker |
| Height | 208 cm |
| Weight | 96 kg |
| Spike reach | 345 cm |
| Block reach | 335 cm |
| Dominant hand | Right |
| Previous clubs | Levski Sofia; Pirin Razlog; Romeo Sorrento |
| Current club | SWD powervolleys Düren |
| Club number | 5 |
| National team | Bulgaria Men’s National Volleyball Team |
| National-team number | 7 |
| @preslavv1 | |
| Career status | Active |
Petkov’s listed height differs slightly across competition sources. His current Düren and former Sorrento club profiles use 208 cm, while the official 2025 World Championship bulletin listed him at 207 cm and Volleyball World currently uses 206 cm. His 345 cm spike reach and 335 cm block reach are taken from the 2025 World Championship measurements. Earlier Bulgarian and CEV registrations contain lower reach figures from previous stages of his development.
Early Life & Volleyball Beginnings
Petkov was born in Etropole and came to organized volleyball relatively late compared with many elite players. He has said that he began training at 15 after Kostadin Stoykov noticed how much taller he was than other boys his age and spoke with Petkov and his parents about trying the sport.
In a 2026 interview with Volley Comment, Petkov described that conversation as the starting point of his volleyball career. What began because of his height developed quickly into serious training, and he later entered the Levski Sofia system.
The physical requirements of middle blocking suited him, but Petkov’s own description of the position goes beyond size. He has emphasized reading the setter, understanding which attackers are most likely to receive the ball and combining height with speed when closing the block. Those ideas became increasingly important as he moved from youth competition into senior volleyball.
Petkov was already representing Bulgaria at age-group level by 2022. He played at the European Youth Olympic Festival and at the CEV U20 European Championship, where Bulgaria defeated Belgium 3–1 in the bronze-medal match.
That generation produced several players who later reached Bulgaria’s senior national team, including Venislav Antov, Stoil Palev and other athletes from the 2003–04 age group.
Club Career
Levski Sofia and the First Pirin Loan
Petkov’s early senior club record is closely connected to Levski Sofia. Bulgarian federation data list him with Levski during the 2021–22 season, when he was still developing into a regular senior middle blocker.
For 2022–23, Levski sent him to Pirin Razlog to gain playing time. The move allowed Petkov to compete more regularly in Bulgaria’s top division rather than remain behind more established middle blockers in Sofia.
He returned to Levski for 2023–24 and joined a young squad that became one of the major stories of the Bulgarian season.
Bulgarian Super Cup and Championship with Levski
Levski began the 2023–24 campaign by winning the Bulgarian Super Cup, defeating Hebar Pazardzhik in five sets. It was the club’s first Super Cup title.
Petkov remained part of the senior squad through the league season. Levski finished the campaign by defeating CSKA Sofia in three consecutive matches in the championship final, returning to the top of Bulgarian men’s volleyball for the first time since 2009.
The title was particularly important for a group built around young Bulgarian players. Petkov shared the roster with Simeon Nikolov, Venislav Antov, Stoil Palev, Damyan Kolev and several other athletes who would later enter Bulgaria’s senior national-team cycle.
He also appeared with Levski in European competition, including the CEV Challenge Cup. The club faced eventual Italian powerhouse Vero Volley Monza during the 2023–24 European campaign, giving Petkov experience against a higher level of international club opposition.
Second Loan to Pirin Razlog
For 2024–25, Petkov returned to Pirin Razlog on another loan from Levski.
The move again centered on court time. Pirin’s Bulgarian federation profile lists him as No. 5 and a 207 cm middle blocker during the season. He entered the year with one Bulgarian championship already on his résumé but without an established starting position at Levski.
That season became a turning point in his development. Petkov later described the path from being a reserve at Pirin to reaching the senior national team and World Championship podium as a result of persistent training and taking advantage of the opportunity when his coaches gave him one.
By the second half of the campaign, his performances had pushed him closer to Bulgaria’s senior international plans.
First Season Abroad with Romeo Sorrento
Petkov moved abroad for the first time in 2025, joining newly promoted Romeo Sorrento for its first season in Italy’s Serie A2.
Sorrento’s club profile listed him at 208 cm and No. 7. The transfer placed him in one of Europe’s strongest second divisions, where middle blockers face faster offenses and a greater concentration of experienced setters and attackers than in the Bulgarian league.
Petkov immediately identified blocking as the strongest part of his game. When Sorrento introduced him, he said that although he enjoyed both attacking and blocking, the block was the element he preferred.
His season backed up that assessment.
Petkov played 27 league matches and 98 sets, finishing with 178 points. Sixty-four of those points came from blocks, an average of approximately 0.65 blocks per set. He added 109 attacking points at 52.4% efficiency and five service aces.
Several individual matches showed how strongly blocking could influence his production. He scored 11 points with six blocks against Taranto and later produced five blocks in a straight-sets victory over Macerata.
Sorrento finished the regular season in tenth place with 11 victories and retained its Serie A2 status. Petkov closed the campaign with eight points, including five blocks and an ace, in a five-set comeback victory over Prata di Pordenone.
The season gave him regular starting experience abroad immediately after his World Championship breakthrough and established his blocking as a transferable strength outside the Bulgarian league.
Move to SWD powervolleys Düren
On 23 June 2026, SWD powervolleys Düren announced Petkov as one of its middle blockers for the 2026–27 German Bundesliga season.
The transfer moved him from Italy’s second level into Germany’s top division. Düren signed him on a contract through 2027 and gave him No. 5.
In the club’s official introduction of Petkov, head coach Christophe Achten highlighted three elements: Petkov’s serve, attacking ability and blocking. Achten also pointed to the Bulgarian’s emotional presence on court.
Petkov explained that Düren’s home atmosphere influenced his decision and that his discussions with Achten matched his own ideas about development and a fast, modern style of volleyball. He also stated that his goal was to help the club compete for a trophy.
The move gives Petkov another step upward in league level while keeping him in a system where quick middle attacks and serving pressure are expected to be important parts of his role.
Club Career Timeline
| Seasons | Team | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Levski Sofia | Bulgaria |
| 2022–23 | Pirin Razlog | Bulgaria |
| 2023–24 | Levski Sofia | Bulgaria |
| 2024–25 | Pirin Razlog | Bulgaria |
| 2025–26 | Romeo Sorrento | Italy |
| 2026–present | SWD powervolleys Düren | Germany |
The sequence shows a deliberate increase in playing level rather than a straight move from academy volleyball to a major foreign league. Petkov alternated between Levski and Pirin while gaining senior minutes, won domestic honors in Sofia, established himself as a starter in Italy and then moved into the German Bundesliga.
National Team Career
Bulgaria’s 2003 Generation
Petkov represented Bulgaria in youth and age-group competition before reaching the senior national team.
His CEV history includes the 2022 European Youth Olympic Festival, the 2022 U20 European Championship and the 2024 U22 European Championship cycle. At the 2022 U20 European Championship in Italy, Petkov played as one of Bulgaria’s middle blockers alongside Boris Nachev and Lazar Bouchkov.
Bulgaria lost to Italy in the semifinal but defeated Belgium 3–1 in the bronze-medal match. The result added another medal to a Bulgarian generation that also took silver at the 2022 European Youth Olympic Festival.
Those tournaments placed Petkov alongside players who would later become regular members of Bulgaria’s senior group.
Senior National-Team Breakthrough
Petkov entered Bulgaria’s senior national-team program during the 2025 cycle under Gianlorenzo Blengini.
His first Volleyball Nations League campaign gave him opportunities in a middle-blocker group that also included Aleks Grozdanov and Iliya Petkov. He did not immediately become a permanent starter, but his performances were strong enough to earn a place in Bulgaria’s 14-player roster for the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship.
He wore No. 29 at the tournament.
2025 World Championship Silver
Bulgaria’s 2025 World Championship campaign became the biggest result of Petkov’s career.
The team advanced from the preliminary phase and defeated Portugal 3–0 in the round of 16. Petkov entered as a substitute and finished the match with the point that sent Bulgaria into the quarterfinals, closing the third set with a block.
Bulgaria then produced a five-set comeback against the United States in the quarterfinal before facing Czechia in the semifinal.
Petkov again contributed as part of the middle-blocker rotation against Czechia. Bulgaria won 3–1 to reach its first men’s World Championship final since 1970.
Italy defeated Bulgaria 3–1 in the gold-medal match, giving the Bulgarians silver. Petkov finished the tournament with seven points: four in attack and three from blocks.
The raw total was modest because his role was primarily as a substitute behind the established middle pair, but several of his appearances came in knockout matches and included decisive points.
2026 Volleyball Nations League
Petkov remained part of Bulgaria’s senior roster in 2026 and switched to No. 7.
Volleyball World recorded seven points during his VNL appearances: four attacks, two blocks and one ace. His role continued to be rotational rather than that of an every-match starter, with Bulgaria also using Grozdanov and Iliya Petkov extensively in the middle.
The tournament nevertheless provided further high-level playing time before his transfer to Düren.
First Senior EuroVolley
EuroVolley 2026 was Petkov’s first senior European Championship.
CEV identified him among nine Bulgaria players making their EuroVolley debuts in Sofia. Bulgaria advanced from Pool B, and Petkov appeared as part of the middle-blocker rotation during the group stage.
One of his more visible contributions came against Ukraine, when he entered during the third set and immediately scored as Bulgaria tried to change the momentum of the match.
Bulgaria reached the round of 16 against Germany. The hosts won the opening two sets but Germany recovered to win 3–2, taking the deciding set 15–12 and ending Bulgaria’s tournament.
Petkov completed the international summer before joining Düren for his first Bundesliga season.
Playing Style & Strengths
Petkov is a conventional modern middle blocker whose game is built around blocking, quick attacking and serving rather than reception.
Blocking is the clearest established strength. His 64 blocks in 98 sets for Sorrento represented more than a third of his total league scoring in 2025–26. An average of roughly 0.65 blocks per set is a substantial output for a full season and supports his own description of the block as his preferred part of the game.
His approach to blocking is also unusually well documented for a young player. Petkov has explained that he initially focuses on reading the opposing setter, then adjusts according to which attackers are performing well and where the setter is likely to send the next ball.
He has also said that faster middle attackers are more difficult for him to defend than players who rely mainly on height. Against speed, a blocker has less time to establish a clean one-on-one position, making anticipation and first movement more important.
That reading process fits his physical profile. At 208 cm in his current club listing, Petkov has the size expected from an international middle, but he does not describe the position as a matter of height alone. In his view, an elite middle needs vision at the net, speed and sufficient attacking height.
His offense is primarily built on quick first-tempo combinations. In his Sorrento season, Petkov scored 109 attacking points at 52.4% efficiency. That production gave his setters a reliable option in the middle while forcing opposing blockers to remain committed rather than drifting early toward the wings.
Serving is a developing secondary weapon. Düren coach Christophe Achten specifically mentioned Petkov’s serve when introducing him, while Petkov scored one ace in limited action during the 2026 VNL.
His 2026 interview also offered useful insight into how he approaches improvement. Asked which part of his game he most wanted to develop, Petkov declined to isolate one skill and said that he did not consider any component perfect. For a player still in his early twenties and moving through stronger leagues, that broader development remains part of his current competitive profile.
Major Achievements
Petkov’s honors include medals with Bulgaria at youth and senior level and domestic success with Levski Sofia.
Selected National Team Honors
| Year | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | European Youth Olympic Festival | Silver medal |
| 2022 | CEV U20 European Championship | Bronze medal |
| 2025 | FIVB Men’s World Championship | Silver medal |
The World Championship silver is his most significant senior honor. Bulgaria reached the final after eliminating Portugal, the United States and Czechia in the knockout phase before losing to Italy.
Selected Club Honors
| Season / Year | Competition | Result | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Bulgarian Super Cup | Winner | Levski Sofia |
| 2023–24 | Bulgarian Championship | Champion | Levski Sofia |
The 2023 Super Cup was Levski Sofia’s first title in that competition. The league championship followed the same season, when Levski swept CSKA Sofia in the final series to return to the Bulgarian championship throne.
Where Is Preslav Petkov Playing Now?
Preslav Petkov plays for SWD powervolleys Düren in the German Bundesliga. Düren signed him in June 2026 after his season with Romeo Sorrento in Italy’s Serie A2, and the German league’s transfer register lists his contract through 2027.
The club’s 2026–27 roster lists Petkov as No. 5 and one of three middle blockers alongside Philipp Lauter and Daniel Wetter. Düren uses 208 cm as his current height.
The move is Petkov’s second consecutive season outside Bulgaria and his first in a top national division abroad. It follows a Sorrento campaign in which blocking was his most productive direct-scoring skill.
Petkov also remains part of Bulgaria’s senior national-team group. He appeared in the 2026 VNL and made his senior EuroVolley debut before joining Düren for the Bundesliga campaign.
Recent Performance Snapshot
| Competition / Season | Matches | Points | Attack Points | Blocks | Aces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025–26 Italian Serie A2 — Romeo Sorrento | 27 | 178 | 109 | 64 | 5 |
| 2026 Volleyball Nations League — Bulgaria | 12 team matches / 6 appearances | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
The Sorrento numbers are the clearest recent full-season measure of Petkov’s club role. His 64 blocks were especially significant and made net defense a major share of his direct scoring.
His 2026 VNL role was smaller. Bulgaria used several middle blockers during the competition, so seven points should be read as production from limited playing time rather than as a full-season scoring comparison with his club statistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Preslav Petkov?
Preslav Petkov is listed at 208 cm by SWD powervolleys Düren and Romeo Sorrento. Volleyball World currently lists him at 206 cm, while the official 2025 World Championship bulletin used 207 cm.
What position does Preslav Petkov play?
Petkov plays middle blocker. His main responsibilities include blocking, quick middle attacking and serving.
Which club does Preslav Petkov play for?
Petkov plays for SWD powervolleys Düren in the German Bundesliga. He joined the club in 2026 after one season with Romeo Sorrento in Italy.
What number does Preslav Petkov wear?
He wears No. 5 for SWD powervolleys Düren. He wore No. 7 for Bulgaria during the 2026 VNL and EuroVolley after wearing No. 29 at the 2025 World Championship.
Did Preslav Petkov win a medal at the 2025 World Championship?
Yes. Petkov was part of the Bulgaria squad that won silver at the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship in the Philippines. He contributed in the knockout phase, including the match-winning block against Portugal in the round of 16.
What is Preslav Petkov’s Instagram?
His official Instagram account is @preslavv1.
References
- SWD powervolleys Düren — 2026–27 team roster
- SWD powervolleys Düren — Preslav Petkov signing announcement
- Volleyball Bundesliga — 2026–27 transfer register
- Volleyball World — Preslav Petkov VNL 2026 player profile
- CEV — Preslav Petkov player history and EuroVolley registration
- Romeo Sorrento — Preslav Petkov player profile
- CEV — Levski Sofia win the 2023–24 Bulgarian championship
- FIVB — Bulgaria’s age-group medal generation
- Volleyball World — Bulgaria defeat Portugal at the 2025 World Championship
- Volleyball World — Italy defeat Bulgaria in the 2025 World Championship final
- CEV — Bulgaria’s EuroVolley 2026 debutants
- Volley Comment — Preslav Petkov interview on his development and middle-blocker role
