Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) achieved an important victory in their away match against Gazprom-Yugra, winning 3:1 (25:22, 37:39, 20:25, 21:25) after nearly 2 hours and 12 minutes of play, in which their class in key moments proved decisive.
Lokomotiv achieved a difficult away victory against Gazprom-Yugra, winning 3:1 (25:22, 37:39, 20:25, 21:25) after nearly 2 hours and 12 minutes of play, in which their class in key moments proved decisive. The match was notable for the record-breaking second set, which ended 39:37. However, the main figure was the 19-year-old setter Simeon Nikolov, who played an exceptional match and scored 14 points – a personal record in the Superleague for a player in this position. He not only orchestrated the attack but also decided key rallies with aces, blocks, and attacks.
The match started better for the hosts, who took the first set 25:22, capitalizing on the guests' reception inconsistencies. The second set, however, turned into a true marathon. After a series of ties and missed opportunities by 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 that point onward, the team from Novosibirsk controlled the game. In the third and fourth sets, the guests imposed a more stable game in blocking and serving, closing out the match after 25:20 and 25:21.
Simeon Nikolov finished third in scoring for Lokomotiv with 14 points, demonstrating multifaceted efficiency – +7 in overall efficiency, 3 blocks, and 4 aces. In attack, the setter was exceptionally clean: out of 10 attacks, he was blocked only once and committed 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, while Voronkov and Lizik each finished with 10 points for the valuable victory.
For Gazprom-Yugra, the only player performing at a high level was Nikiforov, who finished as the top scorer of the match with 28 points. However, his support was extremely insufficient – none of his teammates exceeded the 10-point mark. The Kostadinov brothers collectively scored 15 points, which clearly shows the imbalance in the hosts' attack.
Ultimately, Lokomotiv won due to better point distribution, stable blocking, and higher-quality serving in the decisive sets, while Gazprom-Yugra remained overly dependent on Nikiforov's individual performance.
The combined team statistics from the match Gazprom-Yugra – Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) 1:3 (25:22, 37:39, 20:25, 21:25) clearly outline the reasons for the guests' 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 their serves that disrupted the hosts' reception at key moments.
The difference in total points – 111:103 in favor of Lokomotiv – shows the guests' 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 indicates better control and less unforced risk.
The attack efficiency indicator is also particularly telling. 49% for Lokomotiv versus 45% for Gazprom-Yugra signifies better realization 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 through a single dominating element, but through balance: superior serving, higher attack efficiency, and more composed play in the crucial sets, which logically led to their 3:1 overall victory.
