The setter of the Bulgarian national team and a silver medalist from the World Championship in the Philippines – Simeon Nikolov, started the new stage of his career in an excellent way. In his first official match for Lokomotiv Novosibirsk in the Russian Super League 2025/26, the team led by Plamen Konstantinov recorded a convincing 3:0 set victory over Kuzbass Kemerovo in the local Siberian derby.
Kuzbass Kemerovo – Lokomotiv Novosibirsk 0:3 (18:25, 15:25, 22:25)
| Team | 1st set | 2nd set | 3rd set | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuzbass Kemerovo | 18 | 15 | 22 | 0 |
| Lokomotiv Novosibirsk | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Top scorers:
Derou – 11 pts., Kurbanov – 12 pts., Shakhbanmirzaev – 10 pts.
The statistics clearly show the superiority of the 'railroaders', who dictated the pace from the start of the match. The balance in attack between Kurbanov and Derou was crucial, while the team's stable block did not allow Kuzbass to develop their play on the wings. Lokomotiv also showed better discipline in defense, managing to limit unforced errors in key moments.
Course of the match
The first two sets were entirely dictated by Lokomotiv – powerful serves, aggressive attacks, and ruthless play in the middle. Simeon Nikolov skillfully managed the setting, often using Kurbanov's pipe attack and quick combinations with the middle blockers.
The third set was the most contested. The hosts from Kemerovo capitalized on several errors by the 'railroaders' and kept the intrigue alive until the middle of the set (16:17). In crucial moments, Nikolov participated in a key block, with which Lokomotiv again took a three-point lead. The Bulgarian did not find the right rhythm for his serve – something expected, given the different 'Volley' ball used in the Russian championship. This did not prevent him from recording an ace and attack points.Moni finished with 6 points (including 2 blocks, 1 ace).
After a pipe attack by Kurbanov, the visitors reached their first match point. Kuzbass saved one, but made an error on serve, and so the score was fixed – 0:3 in favor of Lokomotiv Novosibirsk.
Start of the season in Russia
This match marked the start of the new season in the Russian Super League. A total of 16 teams will play two matches against each other – home and away. After 30 rounds, the top four teams will qualify directly for the quarterfinals, while the next eight (from 5th to 12th place) will compete in an additional playoff round of two matches, with a 'golden set' if needed.
Moni Nikolov's debut was successful – he showed composure, mature attack management, and good synergy with the attackers right from the first official match. As the season progresses, his role in Konstantinov's system is expected to strengthen, especially in matches against top opponents.
