Bulgarian setter of Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) Simeon Nikolov was named to the ideal team of the first round in the Russian Super League. The team led by Plamen Konstantinov started the season with a win in their away match against Kuzbass (Kemerovo), and Nikolov played a key role in organizing the game and added 6 points – 1 ace, 2 blocks, and 3 attacks. He received a rating of 7.2, as did the middle blocker Ilyas Kurkaev – both with the highest individual rating in the match.
Ideal team of the round:
| Player | Team | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Moni Nikolov | Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) | Setter |
| Sam Deroo | Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) | Outside Hitter |
| Dmitry Lyzik | Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) | Middle Blocker |
| Mikhail Labinsky | Zenit (Kazan) | Outside Hitter |
| Artem Volvich | Zenit (Kazan) | Middle Blocker |
| Santiago Danini | Zenit (Kazan) | Libero |
| Roman Murashko | Dynamo (Moscow) | Opposite Hitter |
The Novosibirsk club commented on the recognition on its social media with the words:
“We didn't have to wait long – the ideal team of the first round for men is ready, and everything is as it should be – beautiful and well-deserved.”
With this strong start, Moni Nikolov showed that he can be a leading figure not only in the Bulgarian national team, but also among the elite setters in the Russian Super League.
