Bulgarian national Alex Nikolov unequivocally prioritized team interest over personal achievements before Cucine Lube (Civitanova)'s last home match of the regular season in the Italian SuperLega.

In a statement to the "biancorossi" club website, the outside hitter emphasized that the match against Vero Volley (Monza) has no bearing on the final standings, but is crucial with a view to the upcoming Final Four for the Italian Supercup.

"First and foremost is always the team's interest Lube's victories and the points that secure us a better ranking and a stable foundation for the future. This match doesn't matter for the table, but it's important for us to enter the Supercup Final Four with confidence. We need to raise our level in the fundamental elements of the game," Nikolov states.

The match also gives Lube a chance for revenge after their loss in Brianza in the first half of the season.

"Of course, we want to get revenge for the poor match in Brianza. For me, it would be great to solidify my top spot among scorers, but I shouldn't focus on that I need to give my best, as in every match."

The Bulgarian emphasized that his consistency in play is a result of the right mentality.

"I achieved these results with a lot of drive and a desire to win, and there's no reason for me to change my approach."

Nikolov also highlighted Lube's strong home performance over the last two seasons.

"In the last two years, we have won over 90% of our home matches, and we want this percentage to get as close to 100% as possible."

The outside hitter described the victory in Verona as the most emotional moment for him this season and expressed confidence that the team would be ready for another clash with the same opponent in the battle for the Supercup.

"The victory in Verona was the strongest moment for me this season. We will try to oppose them again in the Supercup."

photo:legavolley.it