Aleksandar and Simeon Nikolov started the new season in the Italian SuperLega with a convincing victory. Cucine Lube Civitanova won away against Rana Verona with a 3:0 (25:20, 25:19, 28:26) in a match from the first round of the championship.
Aleksandar Nikolov was the top scorer in the match with 19 points, including 13 in attack, 5 aces, and one block. The Bulgarian international demonstrated a particularly strong serve, which became one of the main weapons of the visitors.
His younger brother Simeon Nikolov also made an impressive debut in the Italian championship. The young setter finished with 5 points – two blocks, two aces, and one successful attack.

Lube controlled the first two sets, won at 20 and 19 points. The most serious challenge came in the third part, when Verona managed to resist the visitors and bring the outcome to a deuce. However, Giampaolo Medei's team maintained concentration and finished the match at 28:26.

Among the other Lube players, Eric Loeppky scored 7 points, while Giovanni Maria Gargiulo, Jackson Hau, and Mattia Bottolo added 6 each.
For the hosts, the top scorer was Paul Buchegger with 13 points, followed by Noumory Keita with 11. Verona played without their main setter Micah Christenson.
With this success, Lube started the season with three points from one of their toughest away games in the championship. Already in their first official match, the Nikolov brothers made a strong statement about their important role in the ambitions of the team from Civitanova.

photos:legavolley.it