The battle for the top scorer title in Italy is becoming one of the most interesting individual competitions in Serie A1, and the name of Aleksandar Nikolov is increasingly convincingly at its center. The Bulgarian international from Cucine Lube Civitanova is only two points behind leader Ferre Reggers, and with one less match played, missed due to accumulated red cards.
A decisive moment in this competition was the direct clash between Lube and Allianz Milano, in which Nikolov not only helped his team but also won the individual duel against his direct competitor for the top scorer position.
Top 5 Scorers in Serie A1 (Individual Points)
| Position | Player | Role | Team | Matches | Sets | Points | Points/set | Break points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferre Reggers | Opposite Hitter | Allianz Milano | 18 | 67 | 360 | 5,37 | 118 |
| 2 | Aleksandar Nikolov | Outside Hitter | Cucine Lube Civitanova | 17 | 64 | 358 | 5,59 | 134 |
| 3 | Veljko Masulovic | Opposite Hitter | Sonepar Padova | 17 | 65 | 284 | 4,37 | 79 |
| 4 | Numory Keita | Outside Hitter | Rana Verona | 18 | 59 | 282 | 4,78 | 107 |
| 5 | Alessandro Bovolenta | Opposite Hitter | Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza | 18 | 66 | 276 | 4,18 | 87 |
The statistics highlight a key detail – Nikolov is the most effective player in Italy in terms of points scored per set played (5.59 points per set), as well as the leader in break points. Although Reggers is formally #1 in total points, he has played one more match, making his advantage extremely fragile.
The Reggers – Nikolov duel: an individual victory for the Bulgarian
| Player | Points | Plus/Minus | Aces | Blocks | Attack Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Nikolov (Lube) | 30 | +12 | 5 | 4 | 60% |
| Ferre Reggers (Milano) | 25 | +8 | 2 | — | 59% |
The numbers clearly show Nikolov's dominance. The Bulgarian surpasses Reggers in points, serve, and block, while in attack they are almost equal. Particularly indicative are his five aces and Nikolov's active participation in blocking
an untypically strong element for an outside hitter at this level.
An interesting and telling moment is that the difference between the two could have been just one point. Until the very end of the match, 31 points for Nikolov were displayed on the official screen in the hall and in the TV graphics, but after the match, the statistics were corrected. The fifth block, initially recorded to the Bulgarian's account, was transferred to another player, which reduced his final tally to 30 points.
The big picture
The statistical correction does not change the essence in the direct clash, Alex Nikolov defeated Fere Reggers. Moreover, he did so not only as a pure scorer, but as a complete player who wins points on serve, on block, and in key moments in attack.
In view of:
higher average scoring,
more break points,
and the upcoming make-up of the missed match,
the question is no longer whether, but when Alexander Nikolov will take the lead in the official ranking of scorers in the strongest championship in the world.
