Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) confidently continues its progress in the Russian Super League. In a match from the 28th round, Plamen Konstantinov's team dealt with Yenisei (Krasnoyarsk) without hesitation – 3:0 (25:18, 25:15, 25:22) – and symbolically marked the arrival of Baba Marta, dedicating the victory to the holiday.
Control from the first ball
The hosts set a high tempo from the very beginning. The stable serve disrupted Yenisei's organization and allowed the block to work in favorable situations. The second game was under the complete control of Novosibirsk, who limited their errors and closed the set with a convincing difference.
In the third game, the visitors tried to maintain parity longer, but in key rallies, Lokomotiv was more precise in attack and did not allow a surprise.
Squad depth
Plamen Konstantinov used rotations that did not affect the quality of play. The players included in the starting lineup took advantage of the opportunity and maintained the team's aggression on the wings. This once again highlighted the squad's breadth before the decisive phase of the season.
Simeon Nikolov scored 4 points (1 ace, 75% attack efficiency, +/- -1). The Bulgarian setter evenly distributed the attacks and maintained a good tempo, which allowed the main scorers to operate with a high success rate.
The scorers made the difference
The most effective scorer for the hosts was Radzhabdimir Shakhbanmirzaev with 18 points (75% attack efficiency, +/- +12). Fyodor Voronkov added 13 points (2 aces, 72% attack efficiency, 11% perfect and 58% positive reception, +/- +10), and Alexander Markin contributed 8 points.
For the visitors, Ziga Štern finished with 11 points (1 block, 53% attack efficiency, 20% perfect and 60% positive reception, +/- +5), but support from the other lines was not sufficient.
The Match in Numbers
Lokomotiv – Yenisei – 3:0 (25:18, 25:15, 25:22)
Shakhbanmirzaev (18), Voronkov (13), Markin (8) – Štern (11), Maksimov (5), Rybakov (4)
| Player | Team | Points | Attack efficiency | Serve | Reception (perfect/positive) | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R. Shakhbanmirzaev | Lokomotiv | 18 | 75% | - | - | +12 |
| F. Voronkov | Lokomotiv | 13 | 72% | 2 aces | 11% / 58% | +10 |
| Zh. Stern | Yenisei | 11 | 53% | - | 20% / 60% | +5 |
Lokomotiv compensated for the absence of some of their key players with extremely high efficiency in attack from the wings
– over 70% for the two main scorers. The difference in scoring and the positive utility balance clearly outline the hosts' superiority.
Position in the standings
| Place | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) | 28 | 23 | 5 | 68 |
With 23 wins from 28 matches, the Novosibirsk team solidifies its position in the top four. The form and stability in individual lines suggest that the team enters the playoff phase with good momentum and confidence.
