Plamen Konstantinov and Lokomotiv a step closer to the Final Six of the Russian Cup!🚂

The team of Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk), led by the former coach of Bulgaria, started their participation in the playoff tournament confidently after crushing Fakel (Novy Urengoy) with a 3:0 (25:19, 25:21, 25:13) victory.

📌 The return leg is on April 19 (Saturday) at 2:00 PM Bulgarian time. Two won sets will guarantee the "railroaders" participation in the "Final Six", which will be held from May 6 to 11 in Kazan. If Fakel wins, a "golden" set will be played.

🔝 Top scorers for Loko:

• 🏐 Omar Kurbanov – 16 points (3 aces, 3 blocks, 59% attack efficiency)

• 🏐 Rajab Shahbanmirzaev – 15 points (4 aces, 58% attack efficiency)

• 🏐 Ilyas Kurkaev – 7 points

🔻 "Loko" clearly dominated in most elements:

• Attack: 57% vs 43%

• Serve: 10 aces vs 3

• Block: 7 points vs 5

• Reception: much more stable play, with only 5 errors from Klim Mozzhukhin for Fakel

🔻 Best for Fakel – Vasily Kapranov with 7 points. Opposite hitter Korney Enns finished with -4 utility and 27% attack efficiency.

🔹 In the other playoff match: Kuzbass (Kemerovo) lost at home to Dinamo (Moscow) with a 0:3 (20:25, 21:25, 19:25) score.
⭐ In the absence of Tsvetan Sokolov, opposite hitter Maxim Sapozhkov was unstoppable with 17 points (12/22 in attack, 2 aces, 3 blocks).
💪 Ilya Vlasov dominated at the net with 5 blocks and a total of 11 points.
📌National team player Asparuh Asparuhov finished with 6 points (1 block), 40% attack efficiency and 31% positive reception.He played a full first set and entered briefly in the third.

The four semifinalists in the championship – Zenit Kazan, Belogorie, Zenit SPb, and Dinamo-LO – are already among the final six teams.