Lube with big win in Super Match of the Week and ticket to quarterfinals

Action-packed Wednesday in the CEV Champions League Volley 2022 - Men started on the early afternoon with highly-anticipated Super Match of the Week between Lokomotiv NOVOSIBIRSK and unbeaten leader of Pool C Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA. The teams delivered stunning Volleyball show to the crowd gathered at majestic Regional Volleyball Center NOVOSIBIRSK and all Volleyball fans in front of TV. The teams fought extremely hard, but eventually Lube prevailed thanks to their persistence and lower number of own mistakes. It's the fifth victory of Cucine Lube Civitanova in Pool C, and although it's still an open question who will top the charts after the last leg, the Italian team already secured a spot in quarterfinals. The winners from each pool will qualify to the quarterfinals along with the three 2nd placed teams with the best scores and in Pool A and B the teams - except leaders - already have at least two lost games. In Pool C, Lube is followed by second-placed Grupa Azoty Zaksa Kędzierzyn Koźle (3W-1L) and 3rd Lokomotiv Novosibirsk (2W-2L) and these two teams will lock horns on Saturday in postponed game of 4th Leg.

Lokomotiv NOVOSIBIRSK vs Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA 1-3 (25-21, 23-25, 22-25, 20-25)

Super Match of the Week was delivering a thrilling rallies from the early beginning. Although, the Italian powerhouse took 8-4 lead, Lokomotiv, sparked by their enthusiastic home crowd, quickly erased the gap (11-11) with solid work on block. Both sides were extremely focused to play their finest Volleyball, but in the decisive stage, Lokomotiv was dominant in all components and Konstantin Abaev impressed with his setting decisions. From 21-19, Lokomotiv marched to a set win which was sealed with ace from Drazen Luburic.

A fierce battle was continued in the second set, even if the host team jumped twice to a three-point lead, Lube quickly tied and point-by-point race was continued. Both teams struggled in reception (Lokomotiv only 25%, Lube 20%), but it didn't prevent them from battling hard until 23-23. Own mistakes (10 by Lokomotiv, 8 by Lube) made a difference, too long serve from Kurkaev gave the visiting team a first set point, and with winning serve from Yant (5 points in 2nd set) they closed the set.

The third part made it even more visible that in such tight game, the details are decisive factor. Although, Lokomotiv was dominant on attack (14-10), but too many service faults (8 errors on service line) cost them a lot, as they were chasing Lube during the entire set. Drazen Luburic (7 kills) and Gabriel Garcia Fernandez (6 kills) were exchanging hits over the net. De Cecco started to look for more technical solutions and it brought fruits, however - again - it was service ace to end the set, this time Simon made this feat.

The fourth set started as a rollercoaster. Lube took an early lead, but Lokomotiv didn't give up. They managed to tie at 14-14, but then again the visiting team ran away with score reaching five-point margin. The team under guidance of Plemen Konstantinov tried everything to come back to game, but it was too late and Simon - like in third set - sealed the deal with ace.

Gabriel Garcia Fernandez topped the scorers chart with 17 points (16 winning spikes and 1 block, 57% of success in attack) and received a well-deserved MVP award. Lokomotiv's leader Drazen Luburic scored 14 points.