Julia Stanev

Photo by: Marquette Athletics

JUNIOR // 2025

AT EASTERN ILLINOIS // 2023-24

Played two years of indoor and beach volleyball at Eastern Illinois and was among the team's block leaders both seasons, recording 99.0 total blocks as a freshman in 2023 and 79.0 in 2024
Averaged 0.96 blocks per frame over 54 matches in her first two seasons while hitting .250 (152-47-420) with 0.82 kills and 1.37 points per set
Played against the Golden Eagles twice while at EIU, once in the 2024 season opener and an NCAA First Round match in 2023 at Purdue
Finished her freshman season sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference with 1.04 blocks per set while helping the Panthers to an OVC title and a 28-5 overall record

SOPHOMORE // 2024 (at EIU)

Appeared in 27 matches and played in 91 sets, which was second most on the team
Led the team with 15 solo blocks with a team second-best 79 total blocks
Recorded a season-high seven blocks against Bradley on September 14th
Posted 70 kills on the season, including a season-high of 8 against Tennessee State (11/20)

FRESHMAN // 2023 (at EIU)

Appeared in 27 matches with 24 starts
Played in a total of 95 sets
Led the Panthers in blocks with 99, including 14 solo rejections
Was sixth in the OVC in blocks per set with an average of 1.04
Recorded a season high of seven blocks in four different matches
Had 82 kills on the season with a .293 attack percentage
Posted a season high seven kills against Tennessee Tech on 10/21
Was named the OVC Freshman of the Week after totaling 11 blocks in two matches against Morehead State

HIGH SCHOOL // PERSONAL

Attended Liceo Linguistico G. Marconi School in Parma and most recently played club volleyball for Pallavolo Alsenese in Piacenza
Has experience playing in the Italian Serie A2 helping lead team to a fifth place finish at the 2021-22 Italian A2 Cup
Hails from an athletic family with her father (Ivan) a former Olympic rower for Bulgaria (1988 Seoul), her mother (Dimitrina Merzianova) a collegiate track and field athlete and her sister (Alessia) a world championship level synchronized roller-skater.