Aleksandar Nikolov solidified his status as one of the biggest stars in world volleyball, after finishing the 2025/2026 season as No. 1 in points scored in the Italian SuperLega. The Bulgarian international and outside hitter for Cucine Lube Civitanova topped the individual rankings for both the regular season and the entire campaign including the playoffs.
Nikolov finished the season with an impressive 642 points in 31 matches and 117 sets played, leaving behind numerous established world-class scorers. His average of 5.49 points per set is also the highest among the league's top scorers.
| Place | Player | Team | Matches | Sets | Points | Points per set |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksandar Nikolov | Cucine Lube Civitanova | 31 | 117 | 642 | 5,49 |
| 2 | Ferre Reggers | Allianz Milano | 26 | 96 | 500 | 5,21 |
| 3 | Wassim Ben Tara | Perugia | 31 | 113 | 476 | 4,21 |
| 4 | Noumory Keita | Verona | 29 | 99 | 466 | 4,71 |
| 5 | Alessandro Bovolenta | Piacenza | 30 | 110 | 418 | 3,80 |
The Bulgarian's lead is more than decisive. Nikolov finishes with a remarkable 142 points ahead of second-placed Ferre Reggers, which demonstrates his consistency throughout the season. Even more impressively, he maintains high efficiency in both the regular season and the most crucial playoff matches.
Dominance in the playoffs as well
In the direct eliminations, Alex Nikolov was once again #1. The Lube outside hitter scored 192 points in 10 playoff matches and finished as the top scorer in the title battles.
| Place | Player | Team | Matches | Sets | Points | Points per set |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksandar Nikolov | Cucine Lube Civitanova | 10 | 37 | 192 | 5,19 |
| 2 | Noumory Keita | Verona | 8 | 31 | 153 | 4,94 |
| 2 | Wassim Ben Tara | Perugia | 9 | 34 | 153 | 4,50 |
| 4 | Mattia Bottolo | Cucine Lube Civitanova | 10 | 37 | 132 | 3,57 |
| 5 | Oleh Plotnytskyi | Perugia | 9 | 33 | 117 | 3,55 |
Statistics show how crucial Nikolov was for Lube in the decisive part of the season. The Bulgarian not only maintained his level but even increased his influence in the most important matches. Over 5 points per set in the playoffs is an indicator of a leadership role and enormous responsibility in offense.
Absolute leader already in the regular season
Even before the start of the playoffs, Alex Nikolov was a leader in the scoring rankings. He finished the regular season with 450 points in 21 matches and an average of 5.62 points per set.
| Place | Player | Team | Matches | Sets | Points | Points per set |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksandar Nikolov | Cucine Lube Civitanova | 21 | 80 | 450 | 5,62 |
| 2 | Ferre Reggers | Allianz Milano | 22 | 80 | 430 | 5,37 |
| 3 | Veljko Masulovic | Padova | 22 | 85 | 331 | 3,89 |
| 4 | Nathan Ferral | Cuneo | 22 | 77 | 329 | 4,27 |
| 5 | Wassim Ben Tara | Perugia | 22 | 79 | 323 | 4,09 |
The difference between Nikolov and the others here is impressive. The Bulgarian is the only player to have surpassed the 450-point mark in the regular season, while simultaneously maintaining the highest efficiency rating among the leaders.
Alex Nikolov's season is yet another proof that Bulgarian volleyball possesses a world-class player. At just 21 years old, he is already a leader of a powerhouse like Lube and one of the most recognizable names in the Italian SuperLega.
His performance in 2025/2026 will undoubtedly rank among the strongest individual seasons by a Bulgarian volleyball player in Italy in recent years.
