The team of Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) achieved a clear away victory against Belogorie, but behind the clean score of 0:3(28:30, 22:25, 20:25)lies a serious battle, especially in the opening set, which lasted a full 33 minutes. The guests could not rely on Lyzik in the middle, but his substitute Brazhnyuk joined successfully.

First set – 28:30

The longest set in the match started better for the hosts, who took the lead and maintained it for a long time. At 15:15, the guests equalized after an ace and a block, and up to 19:19, the game went point for point. This tie came after a service error by Lokomotiv, which was followed by a series of exchanged service errors – three in a row.

Kazachenkov equalized for 21:21, after which Kurkaev executed a counterattack and for the first time in the set, Lokomotiv took the lead. Another service error brought the first set point for the guests, but Belogorie took the part into overtime. There, set points alternated, with another service error giving a 27:28 lead. Another equalization followed – 28:28, but play through the middle brought 28:29 for Lokomotiv, and a block ended the dramatic set – 28:30.

Second set – 22:25

The second part started better for the guests. At 3:5, an ace by Moni Nikolov made the score 3:6. A little later, Lokomotiv's setter attempted an attack, but without success – 5:7. His second ace in the set equalized at 13:13.

Up to 19:19, the two teams were evenly matched, but an attack by Kurkaev and an out-of-bounds hit by the hosts gave Lokomotiv the lead – 19:21. Two consecutive errors, one of which was a setting error by Moni, brought the tie back. In the end, however, the errors proved decisive. After 22:21 for Belogorie, a service error and an attack out of bounds followed, and a strong serve by Moni disrupted the hosts' reception, leading to a break after an attack by Kazachenkov. A block ended the set – 22:25.

Third set – 20:25

And in the third part, Belogorie's errors weighed heavily from the start. Lokomotiv took the lead, and at 2:5, a block by Moni Nikolov showed the guests' good performance in this element as well. Lokomotiv's setter also impressed with saved balls in defense, which further stabilized the team's play.

Gradually, the guests pulled away, and the hosts, pressured by the score, made more and more inaccuracies. A strong serve by Moni led to an attack out of bounds and 10:16. Belogorie still made two mini-series of two points each and came closer to 17:20. An ace by Moni increased it to 18:23, the hosts again reduced the deficit after an attack out of bounds by Kurbanov – 20:23.

An excellent overhead pass from Moni to Kazachenkov, who joined from the back row, followed, bringing the first match point. It was Kazachenkov who ended the match – after an attack by Belogorie softened by the block, he executed a counterattack for the final20:25and0:3set.

Lokomotiv showed more mature and cool-headed play in decisive moments, and stable serving, effective blocking, and good defensive organization proved to be the key to their clean away success.