Zenit-Kazan defeated Lokomotiv Novosibirsk 3:1 (25:18, 18:25, 25:22, 27:25) in the second match of the semifinal series in the Russian championship, thus leveling the series at 1:1. After the defeat in the first home game, the Kazan players came out extremely focused and this time managed to impose greater stability from the serve and in blocking to achieve success in front of their home crowd.
Already in the first set, the hosts showed that they had learned lessons from the defeat in the opening match in Kazan. Their strong serve and well-organized block helped them build a six-point lead in the middle of the set at 17:11. Lokomotiv reacted with more stable defense and better organization, and Simeon Nikolov, Fyodor Voronkov, and Dmitry Lyzik led the team in an attempt to turn the tide. Lyzik scored an ace for 18:15, but after 19:16, Zenit went on a run of four consecutive points, aided by Mikhail Labinskiy's powerful serve, to pull away to 23:16. The visitors took two more rallies, but the set ended after an attack into the net by Ilyas Kurkaev.
The second set started evenly, with both teams constantly exchanging the lead point by point. Zenit reached a 15:13 lead, but after 16:16 and 17:17, the initiative shifted to Lokomotiv. The Novosibirsk players pressured with their serve, and an ace by Lyzik gave them a 19:17 lead. Strong minutes followed for the visitors in blocking, with Kurkaev stopping an attack for 21:18, and then Ilya Kazachenkov scored an ace. Lokomotiv convincingly closed the set with another ace by Kazachenkov.
The third set saw significant swings. The visitors started better and led 4:1, maintaining a two-to-three-point lead until 11:9. However, they then allowed two runs totaling five points, which enabled the hosts to turn the score to 14:12. Lokomotiv returned to the match with a strong serve, and Moni Nikolov's first point came precisely from a serve for 14:14. A new ace, this time by Omar Kurbanov, put the visitors ahead 16:15. The game remained point-for-point until 19:19, when the decisive moment arrived. Lokomotiv committed errors, and Konstantin Abaev made a very important tip for 22:20. Then Nikolov made a service error for 23:21, Lyzik attacked out, and Zenit closed the set at 25:22.
The fourth set offered the most drama. The hosts started better through Dmitry Volkov, Maxim Mikhailov, and Labinskiy's strong serve, but Lokomotiv managed to equalize at 8:8. Zenit then took the initiative again, and an ace by Labinskiy made it 11:8. Moni Nikolov responded with his second ace of the match for 11:10, with both his first points coming from a serve. Service errors by the visitors helped the Kazan players maintain a two-point lead until 18:16, 19:17, and 21:19. However, Lokomotiv did not give up. After a service error by the hosts and a block by Nikolov against Labinskiy, the score became 21:21. A new block followed for 22:21 for Novosibirsk, and after a block against Mikhailov, the visitors reached their first set point at 24:23. However, they failed to convert it. At 25:25, Mikhailov made up for his previous error, and in the decisive rallies, Abaev's block and Labinskiy's powerful serve brought the final 27:25 and victory for Zenit.
For the winners, Dmitry Volkov was the top scorer with 17 points, Maxim Mikhailov added 15, and Mikhail Labinskiy finished with 11 points. For Lokomotiv, Omar Kurbanov scored 20 points, Ilya Kazachenkov finished with 18, and Fyodor Voronkov added 11.Simeon Nikolov finished with 4 points, 2 aces, and 2 blocks.
Simeon Nikolov contributed with important moments during the match, scoring two points from serve in crucial situations and two consecutive blocks in the fourth set, with which Lokomotiv turned the score to 22:21 and was on the verge of taking the match to a tie-break.

Team statistics:

Zenit won the match, despite losing in two key elements – serve and block. Lokomotiv had a significant advantage in aces (11 versus 7) and blocks (11 versus 6), which indicates an aggressive and risky playing style, especially from the serve and in the defensive phase.
The decisive factor, however, was attack efficiency and error control. The Kazan players achieved a higher attack percentage (48% versus 44%), which is critical in a match with close sets. Even more significant was the difference in errors – 34 for Lokomotiv versus 20 for Zenit. This practically neutralized the Novosibirsk team's advantage in serve and block.
It's also noteworthy that the hosts had a weaker reception (25%), but despite this, they managed to organize a more effective attack, which speaks to the high class of their setting and decision-making in difficult situations.
Lokomotiv wins the battle of risk (serve and block), but loses the war due to too many errors and lower efficiency in the finishing attack.
The third match of the series is in Novosibirsk on April 10.