Lokomotiv Novosibirsk lost the derby against Zenit Saint Petersburg 0:3 (21:25, 24:26, 23:25) and may regret not winning at least one set in the match. The hosts had real opportunities to equalize the score in the second set, but the lack of maximum concentration in key moments and the phenomenal play of opposite hitter Vladislav Babkevich did not allow the match to take a different course.
Simeon Nikolov's parents were also present in the stands in Novosibirsk, watching the match live.
Match Development
First Set
The guests started stronger and quickly built up a lead, taking a 9:13 lead after an ace. Lokomotiv's head coach Plamen Konstantinov reacted with a double substitution, replacing Nikolov and Kazachenko, but Zenit made two three-point runs and one four-point run to increase their lead to 13:20.
Lokomotiv nevertheless brought back the intrigue and reduced the deficit to 20:23 after Simeon Nikolov came in. Ilyas Kurkaev made it 21:24, but then he made a service error and the set concluded in favor of Vladimir Alekno's team.
Second Set
The second set started evenly. The hosts made a three-point run and took the lead, but a long video review followed, which rattled Plamen Konstantinov.
After Moni Nikolov came in and Kurkaev scored an ace, the score became 16:14, and a little later, the setter of the Bulgarian national team made a solo block against Marlon Yant, his brother Alex's former teammate at Lube, for 17:14.
Here, however, Babkevich once again took center stage, gradually closing the gap. His attacks led to 21:21 and 22:22. Lokomotiv reached their first set point after an out-of-bounds serve by the guests, but Yant equalized. An attack error by Lizik followed, and then an attack out by Kurbanov, which turned the score – 0:2 sets for the guests.
Third Set
The third set also started evenly, with Babkevich continuing to trouble the hosts' defense. Despite this, Lokomotiv made a four-point run and took a 13:11 lead.
Zenit responded with a three-point run and equalized, but the hosts once again took the initiative – 20:17. Just then, the guests made another run and equalized at 20:20, and at 22:22 the tension was maximal.
A block-out brought 22:23, followed by a block against Lizik for the first match point. Lokomotiv managed to save the first, but then the omnipresent Babkevich scored another attack and ended the match – 0:3.
Team Statistics
| Category | Lokomotiv | Zenit St. Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Attack Points | 40 | 30 |
| Attack Efficiency | 45% | 48% |
| Block | 5 | 15 |
| Aces | 3 | 3 |
| Service errors | 13 | 15 |
| Positive reception | 45% | 27% |
| Perfect reception | 20% | 7% |
| Points from opponent's errors | 20 | 20 |
The numbers show why Zenit won the match. Although Lokomotiv had more attack points and significantly better reception, the huge difference came fromthe block – 15 to 5. This element tilted the scales in the decisive moments of the second and third sets. Furthermore, Zenit executed their attacks with higher efficiency.
Individual statistics (Lokomotiv)
| Player | Points | +/- | Attack | Block |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilya Kurkaev | 10 | Simeon Nikolov | Simeon Nikolov | Simeon Nikolov |
| Kurbanov | 10 | Simeon Nikolov | Simeon Nikolov | Simeon Nikolov |
| Kurkaev and Kurbanov were the top scorers for the hosts with 10 points each, but Lokomotiv failed to find consistency in attack in key moments. Simeon Nikolov scored 4 points, excelling with 2 blocks, but overall the team struggled to find solutions against the organized block of the visitors. | 4 | -1 | 33% | 2 |
Player of the Match
Undoubtedly, the 210-centimeter Vladislav Babkevich was above all:
25 points
+20 efficiency rating
1 ace
1 block
64% attack efficiency
The Belarusian opposite was practically unstoppable for Lokomotiv's block and was not stopped by a point block even once, which proved to be a key factor for Zenit's success.
After playing 29 matches and suffering their sixth loss of the season, Lokomotiv Novosibirsk remains in 4th place in the Russian championship standings with 68 points, behind Zenit Kazan, Dinamo Moscow, and Zenit Saint Petersburg.
След изиграването на 29 мача и шестата загуба за сезона, Локомотив Новосибирск остава на 4-то място в класирането на руското първенство с 68 точки, зад отборите на Зенит Казан, Динамо Москва и Зенит Санкт Петербург.
