"Loko" rails for Verbov and Alekno's intrigue in the series with "Dynamo": the playoff layout of the Super League

      Who among the Superleague participants is destined to reach the final of the playoffs 2025/26

      All participants of the playoff semifinals have been determined in the Superleague

      In the volleyball Superleague, all four semifinalists of the playoffs have been determined, and the first match of the first pair has already taken place. The opening match between "Zenit-SPb" and "Dynamo" ended in St. Petersburg with a score of 3:2 in favor of the latter. The next match between the rivals will take place on April 2 in the Northern capital as well. In the third match, the teams will meet in Moscow on April 9. If necessary, the fourth match may take place on April 11 in Moscow, and the fifth - on April 15 in St. Petersburg. As for the second pair "Zenit-Kazan" and "Lokomotiv," the opening games will take place on April 3 and 5 in the capital of Tatarstan. The third match will similarly take place in Novosibirsk on April 10. In the semifinals, teams play until three victories.

      "Zenit-Kazan" is the clear favorite of the playoffs, but will they stumble again against the inconvenient "Lokomotiv"?

      Following the quarterfinals of the playoffs, Kazan's "Zenit" unconditionally secured their spot in the next round, achieving two confident straight victories over Novokuibyshevsk's "Nova" (3:0). At first glance, in the semifinal pair "Zenit-Kazan" - "Lokomotiv," Alexey Verbov's team looks like the clear favorites. According to the results of the regular season, the Tatarstan team again led with 82 points. They have 28 wins and only 2 losses. "Lokomotiv" finished the season in fourth place. Out of 30 rounds, the Novosibirsk team won 25 matches and lost in five. In the quarterfinal stage of the playoffs, the "railroaders" had a tough time against "Belogorie." It took three matches to determine the winner in this pair. After two matches in the series, there was a tie. In the first match, the "railroaders" were stronger (3:1), while in the second, the Belgorod team responded well on their home court in Tula (3:0). The latter sometimes looked more convincing than their opponents. In the final match, after three sets in Novosibirsk, "Lokomotiv" emerged victorious.

      However, the Novosibirsk team is currently the most inconvenient opponent for "Zenit-Kazan." Indeed, both losses in the regular season 2025/26 for the Tatarstan team came precisely from the "railroaders": at home in Kazan (1:3) and away in Novosibirsk (2:3). Additionally, Plamen Konstantinov's team defeated Alexey Verbov's squad in the final of the Russian Supercup (3:1). In the playoffs over the last 10 years, the rivals have not faced each other even once.

      Perhaps the advantage of playing at home in the opening games of the semifinals may partially benefit the Kazan team. Also, one should not underestimate the winning mentality factor of the Tatarstan team. In this regard, they are more resilient than "Lokomotiv." Perhaps in the second most significant tournaments, Alexey Verbov's team does not perform as successfully and does not give their all. However, in the national championship, the Tatarstan team is a 13-time champion of Russia. Over the past three seasons under Alexey Verbov's leadership, the Kazan team has not relinquished the palm of victory.

      "Lokomotiv," under Plamen Konstantinov, who has been leading the team since the 2016/17 season, has never reached the finals of the playoffs. The "railroaders" have only reached the semifinals twice: in the debut season under the Bulgarian specialist and in the 2022/23 season, but both times they ended their performances at this stage.

      Among the leaders in Kazan's "Zenit," Dmitry Volkov stands out. He has been the team's top scorer for four seasons. According to the results of the regular season, Dmitry Surmachevsky is the best server in the Superleague. Maxim Mikhaylov is considered by the volleyball community to be the best diagonal player of the 21st century. Artem Volvich is a true leader and captain who leads the team. Overall, Kazan has a balanced team capable of putting pressure on any opponent and at any position.

      In "Lokomotiv," one of the most experienced players is central blocker Dmitry Lyzik. He has been part of the main squad since 2020 and has won gold, silver, and bronze in the Russian championships. The main attacker in the "railroaders" remains Ilya Kazachenko. Also, in February, after a long absence due to cancer, one of the best outside hitters in the Russian championship, Sam Deru, returned to action.

      Is Alekno's team capable of defeating "Dynamo" and reaching the final?

      "Zenit-SPb" finished the regular season in the Superleague in second place. Until the last round of the championship, the main opponent of Vladimir Alekno's team for the second spot was Konstantin Bryansky's team. The Muscovites finished just a couple of points behind the St. Petersburg team in the tournament standings. So, it is difficult to speak of a clear favorite in the playoff semifinals in this pair for now. At the same time, in the debut match of the ongoing tournament, the score in the series is currently in favor of "Dynamo" (1:0).

      In the regular season, both teams recorded 25 wins and 5 losses. The Muscovites (79:26) lost to the St. Petersburg team (81:21) only by the difference in points scored and conceded. Moreover, until the last round, the "Dynamo" team was ahead of their opponents by one victory but lost at home to "Belogorie." In the format of head-to-head confrontations during the 2025/26 season, the advantage is on the side of the St. Petersburg team. In both encounters, "Zenit" defeated "Dynamo" away (3:1) and at home (3:0).

      At the same time, "Dynamo" has one of the strongest serves this season, second only to Kazan's "Zenit." In terms of statistics, the "Dynamo" team surpasses their opponents in total aces and points per set in this element - 206 to 170 and 1.82 to 1.56, respectively. However, the St. Petersburg team looks more favorable than their opponent in attack and blocks.

      Partially, the advantage in this pair in the opening matches is on the side of Vladimir Alekno's team. For them, the first games of the playoff semifinals will take place at home in St. Petersburg, which is a significant plus. In the quarterfinals of the tournament, "Yenisey" almost did not cause any particular trouble for "Zenit." During the first match, the St. Petersburg team completely dominated (3:0), and in the return match, they won with a loss of one set (3:1).

      "Dynamo" defeated their neighbors from St. Petersburg, "Dynamo-LO," in the quarterfinals. The Muscovites convincingly won the first match (3:0), while in the second match, Konstantin Bryansky's team had to work a bit harder for the victory (3:1).

      In "Dynamo," the main attacking load falls on Maxim Sapozhkov. Additionally, the "blue-white-blue" team has the league's top scorer Vladislav Babkevich and the strongest pair in the Superleague's outside hitting - Denis Bogdan and Anton Semyshev.

      The central role in "Zenit" is played by diagonal Vladislav Babkevich. He is also the top scorer of the Superleague. In the power struggle, there is no equal to the Cuban Marlon Yantu in the "blue-white-blue" team. Denis Chereyskiy became one of the most valuable players of the past regular season. In defense, one of the most stable players is Evgeny Grebennikov. Vitaly Dikarev is the league's best blocker.

      Over the past 10 years in the playoffs, "Dynamo" has reached the finals three times and lost each time to Kazan's "Zenit" (in the 2016/17, 2022/23, 2023/24 seasons). Only in the previous season did the Muscovites exit during the quarterfinals, losing to "Dynamo-LO" (0:2). "Zenit-SPb," in turn, has participated in the playoff finals three times, twice exiting during the final series to Kazan's "Zenit" (in the 2017/18, 2024/25 seasons) and once to "Kuzbass" (2018/19).

      In the debut match of the playoff semifinals, Alekno lost to Bryansky

      In the first match of the semifinals, "Zenit-SPb" lost to "Dynamo" (2:3) at home in front of their fans in St. Petersburg. At the beginning of the match, the advantage of the hosts was