Lokomotiv, with the help of a great home crowd and the attacking prowess of Ekaterina Orlova, Margarita Kurilo and Yuliya Podskalnaia started the game stronger. However, Nova KBM Branik had enough in the to keep up throughout a big part of the first set, managing in the end to reach the 18 points mark in what would be their highest tally in a set.

In the second set the superiority of Lokomotiv was evident. Irina Voronkova played excellently in first draws and scored several points in a row, while Orlova and Kleger scored points at the block. The beginning of the third set brought an even battle once again. However, Ana Kleger and Yuliya Brovkina rose to the occasion to give their team the win.

Lokomotiv’s outside spiker, Margarita Kurilo, was named MVP of the match.

Anita SOBOČAN, Outside Spiker Nova KBM Branik Maribor: “We knew that Lokomotiv was of a stronger level but we came to fight and we tried to do our best. It was a good experience to play on such a level. Before we did not have enough experience in playing in Champions’ League.”

Radovan Gagic, Head Coach Nova KBM Branik Maribor: “We knew it would be hard, but we fought. We did not cope with the service and block from Lokomotiv and we made some mistakes in attack. Lokomotiv won this match diservedly.”

Andrey Voronkov, Head Coach Lokomotiv Kaliningrad Region: “We are very happy that we started the Champions League with a victory. We prepared the match very seriously, herewith our players did not have any excitement. In the first set our opponents played stingy but in the second and third sets our superiority was evident.”

Margarita Kurilo, Outside Spiker Lokomotiv Kaliningrad Region: “Surely it was pleasant for me that I was recognized the MVP of the match but all our team played very good. The match itself was not so simple and we had to do our best to succeed. Last season as a player of “Yenisey” I played a match against “Nova KBM Branik” in CEV CUP, that time we won two times by 3:0 but now I liked the team from Maribor much more.”