The youth team of "Lokomotiv-SSHOR" (Novosibirsk) continues to crush everything in its path in the GEOTECH Youth League, establishing itself as the absolute hegemon of the championship. Under the leadership of Georgi Petrov, who will very soon join the coaching staff of the Bulgarian national U22 team, the Novosibirsk team doesn't just win – it dominates.
The reigning Russian champions and winners of the Youth League Cup are leaders in the standings after four rounds with 18 consecutive victories and a perfect record of points, without a single lost set in key moments of the season. The streak continues during the home round in Novosibirsk (January 11-17), where the "railroaders" confirm their status as a team that plays at a completely different level.
Results of "Lokomotiv-SSHOR" in the home round
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| January 11 | "Lokomotiv-SSHOR" – "Dynamo-Olimp" (Moscow) | 3:1 (25:19, 22:25, 25:18, 25:17) |
| January 12 | "Belogorie-2" (Belgorod) – "Lokomotiv-SSHOR" | 0:3 (19:25, 22:25, 20:25) |
| January 13 | "Lokomotiv-SSHOR" – "Kuzbass-2" (Kemerovo) | 3:0 (25:19, 25:15, 25:18) |
All three victories followed the same scenario – high tempo, decisive superiority in reception and blocking, and composure in key rallies. Even with a lost set against "Dynamo-Olimp", control over the match remained entirely in the hands of the Novosibirsk team. Against "Belogorie-2" and "Kuzbass-2", the dominance was complete – clear victories without real intrigue.
Until the end of the home round, "Lokomotiv-SSHOR" has three more matches – against "Dynamo-Olimp", "Belogorie-2", and "Kuzbass-2", and the schedule does not offer serious prerequisites for an surprise. Given what has been shown so far and the complete control in every set, the logical expectation is for Georgi Petrov's team to close the tournament undefeated and extend its impressive winning streak.
A team, not a collection of individual names.
The strongest weapon of "Lokomotiv-SSHOR" is its collective strength. The team plays with a clearly established model, without relying on individual flashes of brilliance. Constant pressure from the serve, well-organized defense with solid saves, and discipline in every set turn matches into a routine task, not a battle for survival.
The Bulgarian footprint
The successes of Lokomotiv-SSHOR logically draw attention to the figure of Georgi Petrov. His work in one of Russia's strongest youth systems demonstrates a coach with a clear concept and authority. This experience will be extremely valuable for the Bulgarian U22 national team, where Petrov will serve as assistant coach to Daniel Peev.
While Lokomotiv's youth team is crushing the competition in Novosibirsk, the hope for Bulgarian volleyball remains that part of this winning model will soon be transferred to our national teams.
