Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) achieved an important victory in their away game against Gazprom-Yugra, prevailing 3:1 (25:22, 37:39, 20:25, 21:25) after almost 2 hours and 12 minutes of play, where class in key moments proved decisive.
The match started better for the hosts, who took the first set 25:22, capitalizing on the guests' reception struggles. The second set, however, turned into a true marathon. After a series of ties and missed opportunities from both sides, Lokomotiv showed stronger nerves and snatched the set 39:37, which also proved to be the psychological turning point in the match.
From then on, the team from Novosibirsk controlled the game. In the third and fourth sets, the visitors imposed a more stable block and serve game, closing out the match after 25:20 and 25:21.
Simeon Nikolov finished third in scoring for Lokomotiv with 14 points, showing multifaceted efficiency – +7 in efficiency, 3 blocks, and 4 aces. In attack, the setter was extremely clean: out of 10 attacks, he was blocked only once and made one error, which is a significant indicator of quality and confidence in the offensive phase.
Kazachenkov was the top scorer for the winners with 17 points, Kurbanov added 12, and Voronkov and Lyzik finished with 10 points each for the valuable success.
For Gazprom-Yugra, the only player at a high level was Nikiforov, who finished as the match's top scorer with 28 points. His support, however, was critically insufficient – none of his teammates surpassed the 10-point mark. The Kostadinov brothers collectively scored 15 points, which clearly demonstrates the imbalance in the hosts' attack.
Ultimately, Lokomotiv won thanks to a better distribution of points, a stable block, and higher quality serving in the decisive sets, while Gazprom-Yugra remained too dependent on Nikiforov's individual performance.
The combined team statistics from the Gazprom-Yugra – Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) match 1:3 (25:22, 37:39, 20:25, 21:25) clearly outline the reasons for the visitors' success:
| Indicator | Gazprom-Yugra | Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks (points) | 14 | 8 |
| Aces | 6 | 9 |
| Total points scored | 103 | 111 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 34 | 36 |
| Attack efficiency | 45% | 49% |
Despite Gazprom-Yugra's significant advantage in blocking – 14 points against 8, this element was not enough to compensate for the other components of the game. Lokomotiv responded with higher quality serving, as evidenced by 9 aces against 6, and it was precisely the pressure from the serve that disrupted the hosts' reception at key moments.
The difference in total points – 111:103 for Lokomotiv – indicates the visitors' more stable performance in long rallies and their better conduct in the decisive phases of the sets. There is also a slight but important advantage in points scored from opponent's errors – 36 against 34, which speaks to better control and fewer unforced risks.
The attack efficiency indicator is also particularly telling. 49% for Lokomotiv against 45% for Gazprom-Yugra means better conversion of opportunities and a more even distribution of attacks, whereas for the hosts, the offensive burden fell almost entirely on Nikiforov.
In summary – Lokomotiv won the match not with a single dominant element, but with balance: better serving, higher attack efficiency, and more composed play in the key sets, which logically led to the final 3:1 success.
