Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) convincingly started its participation in the Russian Super League playoffs, after overturning Belogorie (Belgorod) at home with a 3:1 (24:26, 25:19, 25:16, 25:22) victory in the first match of the quarter-final series.
The team led by Plamen Konstantinov showed character after losing the first set, but gradually imposed control over all key elements and left no doubt about their superiority.
At the heart of the comeback was the Bulgarian setter Simeon Nikolov, who had a strong match and contributed 8 points (5 aces!, 1 block, 40% attack efficiency), also receiving a high rating of 7.6. Particularly impressive was his influence from the serve, where he disrupted the opponent's reception at key moments.
Team Statistics
| Metric | Lokomotiv | Belogorie |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 99 | 83 |
| Attack | 61% | 46% |
| Aces | 9 | 4 |
| Block | 11 | 6 |
| Reception | 39% | 29% |
| Errors | 28 | 20 |
Lokomotiv won the match through a clear superiority in attack and serving. The 15% difference in attack efficiency is indicative of the control the hosts imposed after the first set. Additionally, 9 aces and 11 blocks emphasized the pressure on Belogorie, especially in transition situations. Despite more unforced errors, the aggressive style of play paid dividends.
Omar Kurbanov was the top scorer for Lokomotiv with 19 points (1 block, 78% attack efficiency, and 38% positive reception), serving as the main weapon in the finishing phase. Significant support also came from Ilya Kazachenkov and Fyodor Voronkov, who scored 16 and 15 points respectively.
For the guests from Belgorod, Mohamed Al Hachdadi was outstanding with 21 points (1 block, 2 aces, 55% attack efficiency), while captain Pavel Tetyukhin added 12 points.
With this success, Lokomotiv took a 1-0 lead in the series, which is played to two wins out of three matches. The second match is on March 28 in Tula, where Belogorie will seek a mandatory response to stay in the fight for the semi-finals.
photo: lokovolley.com
