Bulgarian setter Simeon Nikolovwon the fan pollfor best setter in the first half of the men's Superliga in Russia. The voting in the official league channel concluded yesterday, and the results clearly show the Bulgarian's categorical superiority over the other candidates.
The vote is part of the procedure for selecting the symbolic team of the first half of the season and holds real weight in the final decision.
What was the poll for?
By decision of the All-Russian Volleyball Federation, for the 2025/2026 season, a symbolic team of the first half of the season in the men's Superliga is being selected. The procedure includes three consecutive stages:
selection of candidates by Superliga experts
fan poll in the official league channel
final voting by the head coaches of the 16 teams
In case of a tie, the head coach of the Russian national team will have the final say.
Final ranking according to fans
| Place | Player | Team | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simeon Nikolov | Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) | 55% |
| 2 | Konstantin Abaev | Zenit-Kazan | 23% |
| 3 | Roman Poroshin | Belogorie | 10% |
| 4 | Pavel Pankov | Dynamo Moscow | 6% |
| 5 | Igor Kobzar | Zenit | 6% |
The fan vote concludes with the complete dominance of Simeon Nikolov – over half of all votes are for the Bulgarian setter. The 32 percentage point difference from Konstantin Abaev, who is second in the ranking, is indicative not just of popularity, but of a clear recognition of his contribution to Lokomotiv's game during the first half of the season.
A comparison between the interim results from January 23 and the final ranking shows a clear trend – following publications in Bulgarian media and the activation of local fans, Simeon Nikolov's lead not only held but also increased, with his percentage growing from 52% to 55%, and the difference from his closest contender solidifying.
Why did Nikolov win the poll?
Simeon Nikolov's season at Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) is more than convincing. The Bulgarian established himself as the main conductor of the game – calm, rational, and with an excellent sense of tempo and situation. Under his leadership, the team demonstrated stability and variability in attack, and his decisions at key moments often brought direct benefits.
The activation of Bulgarian fans after publications in the local media also played its role, with the vote clearly showing how strong support can be when it is organized and purposeful.
The Voice of the Fans
Comments under the poll are almost unanimous – "Simeon Nikolov", "Moni", "Only Moni!", "Nikolov, of course!" and "Phenomenal player" dominate the discussion, with competition practically absent from the conversation.
What's next?
Winning the fan poll does not automatically guarantee a spot in the symbolic team, but it provides a strong argument in favor of Simeon Nikolov to the coaches of the Superleague teams. In a league with exceptionally strong setters, such recognition from the public carries real weight.
The final roster of the symbolic team for the first half of the season will be announced onJanuary 30.
