Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) decisively defeated Zenit (Saint Petersburg) with a score of 3:0 (25:19, 27:25, 25:20) in the fourth match of the series for third place in the Russian Super League. Thus, Plamen Konstantinov's team tied the score at 2:2, and the bronze medals will be distributed in a decisive fifth match.
The match, which will determine the final standings, is scheduled for May 2 in Saint Petersburg.
In the first set, both teams made quite a few service errors (7-5), but Lokomotiv capitalized better on the situations. Omar Kurbanov scored an ace for 4:2, and in a run by Ilya Kazachenkov – including an ace and a transition ball – the hosts made their decisive break from 17:14 to 20:14. The most effective players in this part were setter Simeon Nikolov and middle blocker Yuri Brazhnyuk with 4 attack points each. In the second set, Lokomotiv again found its rhythm in the middle of the segment. Dmitry Lyzik, Nikolov, and Fyodor Voronkov recorded three consecutive blocks for a 15:13 lead. Zenit, however, tied the score at the end after an ace from Vladislav Babkevich – 21:21, but in the decisive rallies, Kazachenkov was flawless, converting 7 out of 10 attacks and secured the 27:25 win.
In the third set, Novosibirsk started confidently and took an 11:5 lead, allowed a slight hesitation and a 4-point run for the guests, but quickly regained their rhythm. The difference again grew to 18:11, which practically predetermined the outcome. In the final rallies, Voronkov executed a pipe for the first match point, and after exchanged errors, the match concluded in three sets.
The most effective players in the match were the opposite hitters of both teams – Ilya Kazachenkov and Vladislav Babkevich, who finished with 16 points each. The Lokomotiv player was more efficient in attack (58% versus 44%).
Simeon Nikolov finished with 7 points, 1.1 blocks.
Individual statistics
| Lokomotiv | Points | Zenit | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kazachenkov | 15 | Babkevich | 15 |
| Voronkov | 11 | Kosmin | 6 |
| Kurbanov | 9 | Yant | 6 |
Lokomotiv showed better balance in offense and higher efficiency from their key scorers, which tipped the scales in their favor. Zenit relied mainly on Babkevich, but the lack of sufficient support in attack limited the visitors' capabilities.
Team statistics:
| Statistic | Lokomotiv | Zenit |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 77 | 64 |
| Aces | 4 | 2 |
| Blocks | 6 | 4 |
| Reception | 39% | 37% |
| Attack | 57% | 46% |
| Errors | 26 | 25 |
The numbers clearly show Lokomotiv's superiority, especially in attack, where the difference of 57% against 46% is significant and explains the clean victory. The hosts also have an advantage in serve and block, though not as pronounced. An interesting detail is the almost equal number of errors, which means that the outcome of the match was not decided by fluctuations, but by Lokomotiv's higher efficiency in attack and better execution in key situations.
The total number of points (77:64) also highlights the control of the Novosibirsk team in the match, especially in the first and third sets, where the differences were more decisive.
Thus, the series logically reaches its maximum of five matches, with the psychological advantage now being rather neutral before the decisive clash.
Vladimir Alekno's team was a silver medalist last season, while Lokomotiv last won bronze in 2023.
