Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) continues its confident run in the championship after defeating Gorky 3:1 (23:25, 25:17, 25:17, 28:26) and recording its 21st victory since the start of the season. The "railroaders" had to turn the tide of the match after losing the first set, but in the next three sets, they showed higher efficiency in key moments.
Simeon Nikolov was once again among the consistent performers for the hosts. The setter of the Bulgarian national team finished with 8 points, including 2 blocks and 1 ace, also scoring important points in the decisive rallies of the fourth set.
Before the start of the match, the hall gave a standing ovation to welcome Sam Deroo, who returned to Novosibirsk after an intensive course of chemotherapy and began his adaptation.
First Set – Gorky Capitalizes on Errors
The guests from Nizhny Novgorod took the initiative early on and maintained a 1-2 point lead for almost the entire set. Lokomotiv failed to organize a comeback, with 7 serving errors for the hosts significantly influencing the outcome, compared to only 2 for their opponent.
A total of 10 points for Gorky came from errors by the "railroaders." This compensated for Lokomotiv's better offensive statistics and logically led to a 25:23 success for the visitors.
Second Set – Block Pressure and Early Lead
In the second set, Lokomotiv started with a whirlwind 8:2 lead, and it was then that Moni Nikolov scored his first point of the match from an attack. Gradually, the hosts increased their blocking aggression and recorded three direct points on this element against none for Gorky.
The difference swelled to 21:13, and the set logically went in favor of Novosibirsk – 25:17. Interestingly, Lokomotiv also committed 7 serving errors in this set, but compensated with more stable play in the other components.
Third Set – Strong Run and Nikolov's Most Productive Set
The third set developed in a similar scenario. The hosts controlled the rhythm, and Nikolov recorded his strongest part – 5 points, including 1 block and 1 ace.
Again, there were fluctuations in serving – 8 errors for Lokomotiv, but despite this, their superiority in attack and game organization brought another 25:17 and a complete turnaround in the match.
Fourth Set – Drama Until the Last Ball
The fourth set was the most tense. Lokomotiv led 18:15, but an attack error reduced the difference, and immediately after, Moni Nikolov stopped the opponent with a block for 19:16.
At 20:18, another serving error occurred for the hosts, but they maintained their lead until 21:18. Two series of break points followed for Gorky, and after an out-of-bounds attack, the score was tied – 22:22.
Nikolov showed good judgment and technically placed the ball for 23:22, but a new break point for the guests gave them their first set point for 2:2, pushing the match into a decisive fifth set. Lokomotiv neutralized the opponent's set point three times, after which Kurbanov's ace tipped the scales. In the final rally, Voronkov tipped the ball with two hands into an unprotected area, and the guests failed to organize good defense, thus ending the match at 28:26.
Individual Performance – Simeon Nikolov
| Player | Points | Block | Ace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simeon Nikolov | 8 | 2 | 1 |
Nikolov did not shine with a double-digit score, however, his main activity is the organization of the game, but his contribution came at the right moments. His control over the pace of the game and distribution under pressure once again showed his growth in a high-intensity championship.
Top scorers
For Lokomotiv, the top scorers were:
Kurbanov – 17 points
Voronkov – 14 points
Lizik – 14 points
For Gorky, Kolmakov stood out with 16 points.
The attacking load for the hosts was balanced, with three players surpassing the 14-point mark, which facilitated Nikolov's distribution and made the game harder to read for the visitors' block.
Team statistics
| Category | Lokomotiv | Gorky |
|---|---|---|
| Block | 10 | 5 |
| Attack efficiency | 54% | 40% |
| Attack points | 58 | 36 |
| Positive reception | 49% | 31% |
| Service errors | 28 | 15 |
| Total points | 101 | 85 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 27 | 41 |
The numbers clearly outline Lokomotiv's superiority in attack – 58 against 36 points from attack and 54% efficiency against 40% for Gorky. This is the fundamental difference in the match. The double superiority in blocking (10 against 5) also tipped the balance in key moments, especially in the second and fourth sets.
A significant contrast is seen in points from opponent's errors
– Gorky scored 41 points after errors by the hosts against 27 in the opposite direction. This is an indicator of Lokomotiv's risky play, especially from the serve (28 errors). Nevertheless, the higher percentage of positive reception (49% against 31%) allowed Nikolov to organize a varied and effective attack.
An interesting detail is that both matches ended 3:1 in favor of the 'railroaders'
– the first on December 5 as an away game and today's
– and in both matches the third and fourth sets ended with absolutely identical scores
– 25:17 and 28:26 in favor of Lokomotiv.
Gorky – Lokomotiv – 1:3(20:25,25:17,17:25,26:28)– the match on December 5 in Nizhny Novgorod.
Lokomotiv – Gorky – 3:1(23:25,25:17,25:17,28:26)– today's match in Novosibirsk.
With this success, Lokomotiv solidifies its position among the leading teams in the championship, and Moni Nikolov continues to gain confidence and influence in the Novosibirsk squad.
