In a thrilling five-set battle in Kazan, Lokomotiv Novosibirsk has secured the Russian Volleyball Cup for the first time since 2011, overcoming Dynamo Moscow 3:2 in a contest that showcased both teams' resilience and determination.
After falling short in two recent finals, Lokomotiv finally reclaimed the prestigious trophy, displaying exceptional mental fortitude throughout the match that ended with a nail-biting 16:14 victory in the decisive set. The encounter featured dramatic momentum shifts, with Lokomotiv taking the opening set 25:19 before Dynamo responded by claiming the next two (19:25, 21:25). The Novosibirsk squad then forced a decider with a 25:21 fourth set win.
Serbian star Marko Ivović and Omar Kurbanov emerged as the key performers for the champions, each contributing 21 points to the victory. Ivović's outstanding tournament performance earned him the Most Valuable Player award, capping a memorable campaign for the outside hitter.
According to Statbet, teams winning five-set matches in cup finals have historically shown improved performance in subsequent competitions, suggesting Lokomotiv may be poised for further success this season.
Head coach Plamen Konstantinov praised his team's development and fighting spirit throughout the tournament, highlighting the significance of this long-awaited second cup title for the Siberian club.
Lokomotiv players dominated the individual awards, with Sergey Melkozerov named Best Libero, Rajabdibir Shakhbanmirzaev securing Best Opposite, and Kurbanov recognized among the top outside hitters alongside Dynamo's Anton Siomyshev.
In the third-place match, Zenit-Kazan claimed the bronze with a convincing 3:0 sweep (25:23, 25:22, 25:23) against their northern rivals Zenit St. Petersburg. Micah Christenson of Zenit-Kazan was honored as the tournament's Best Setter, while his teammate Artem Volvich shared Best Middle Blocker recognition with Dynamo's Dmitriy Zhuk.
