The absence of a third-place playoff in the SuperLega this season not only changed the distribution of European quotas. It also has a direct impact on individual rankings, where Aleksandar Nikolov is in an excellent position to finish as the top scorer in the playoffs.
According to Lega Volley's official formula for the 2025/26 season, no third-place match is played ("Non si disputerà il Play Off 3° Posto") and the ranking of the eliminated semi-finalists is determined by the regular season. This means that some of the leading scorers will no longer increase their assets.
The situation in the ranking
As of the fourth matches of the semi-finals, the top scorers look like this:
| No. | Player | Team | Matches | Sets | Points | Points/Set |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keita Numory | Verona | 8 | 31 | 153 | 4.94 |
| 2 | Aleksandar Nikolov | Lube Civitanova | 7 | 26 | 143 | 5.50 |
| 3 | Jose Gutierrez | Piacenza | 8 | 34 | 114 | 3.35 |
| 7 | Wassim Ben Tara | Perugia | 6 | 23 | 97 | 4.22 |
Analysis
The numbers clearly show several key trends:
Nikolov is the most effective scorer among the leaders – 5.50 points per set is the highest indicator among the leading players
The players from Piacenza and Verona have already concluded their participation and will not add new points
The most significant thing, however, is something else.
The absence of a small final tips the scales
Under the old format, the eliminated semi-finalists would have played a series for third place. This means:
more matches
more sets
more points for the scorers
Now this is missing, which practically "freezes" the points total of Nikolov's direct competitors.
What does this mean for Nikolov
Lube is in the final at least 3 more matches
More playing time more opportunities for points
High efficiency a real chance to overtake Numory
At the same time, the only player from the finalists in the top 10 Ben Tara from Perugia is too far behind (97 points) to be a real factor in the battle for the top spot.
The context more than individual statistics
Nikolov's position is not accidental. He is:
main attacking volume for Lube
stable on serve
increasingly consistent in defense and reception
The combination of his playing role and the championship format puts him in a perfect situation to finish the playoffs as the No. 1 scorer.
Commentary
The change in the regulations – the absence of a third-place playoff – seems administrative, but in fact, it has a direct sporting impact. It shortens the opportunities for statistical catch-up and gives an advantage to players from the finalists.
In this context, Aleksandar Nikolov is not just among the best – he is in a position to be No. 1, and that too in the strongest league in the world.
