Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) recorded its third defeat since the start of the season after losing 0:3 (17:25, 20:25, 22:25) away to Zenit (Saint Petersburg) in a match from the 14th round of the Russian Super League. Vladimir Alekno's team – former coach of the "sbornaya" (national team) and a well-known name to the Bulgarian public – controlled the match from start to finish and did not allow the visitors to find their rhythm.
Despite the decisive result, Simeon Nikolov once again showed class and stability in organizing the game, but this time his efforts were not enough against the perfectly prepared host. The setter finished with 4 points, +1 differential, 1 ace, and 100% in attack.
Top Scorers
| Team | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Zenit (SP) | Omar Kurbanov | 11 |
| Lokomotiv (Ns) | Ilya Kazachenkov | 9 |
| Lokomotiv (Ns) | Dmitry Lyzik | 9 |
Kurbanov was the most effective scorer in the match, punishing any weaker defensive organization by the visitors. For Lokomotiv, the offensive load was distributed between Kazachenkov and Lyzik, but consistency was lacking in crucial moments.
Team Statistics
| Metric | Zenit (SP) | Lokomotiv (Ns) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Points | 75 | 59 |
| Attack (%) | 64% | 53% |
| Service aces | 5 | 3 |
| Blocks | 10 | 5 |
| Reception (%) | 39% | 58% |
| Errors | 18 | 17 |
Zenit's key advantage came from higher attack efficiency and a block that was twice as good. Although Lokomotiv had better reception, this did not translate into enough points, and the lack of sharpness in the first attack proved decisive. Vladislav Babikevich from Zenit was outstanding in the match, finishing with 26 points.
Standings after the 14th round
| Place | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | Sets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zenit-Kazan | 14 | 13 | 1 | 37 | 40:11 |
| 2 | Dynamo (Moscow) | 14 | 12 | 2 | 34 | 37:13 |
| 3 | Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) | 14 | 11 | 3 | 33 | 35:13 |
| 4 | Zenit (Saint Petersburg) | 14 | 10 | 4 | 32 | 36:16 |
Despite the loss, Lokomotiv remains in the top three, but Zenit (Saint Petersburg) dangerously closed the gap and solidified their ambitions for a direct battle for medals. Plamen Konstantinov's team faces an important series, in which improving attack efficiency will be crucial.
Plamen Konstantinov's boys' next match is for the Super Cup against Dynamo Moscow on December 25th, followed by an away game in Yaroslavl for the championship on December 28th.
