Service and experience played for Zenit

The game was decided by the serve plus the experience of the Kazan players. Maxim Mikhailov never appeared on the set, but Denis Zemchenok quite worthily replaced the main scorer of the team. The rest of the "Zenith" was quite combat, as, however, and at Gazprom-Ugra. The equal debut of the first batch tore up the gaining shape Bartosz Bednorzh with three perfect aces in a row, 4:8. Actually, this gap predetermined the final result - the people of Surgut later fought on equal terms, two aces were designed by Shakhbanmirzaev, but in the end these three balls were not enough, 22:25.

In the second set, Dovgan was replaced by Yakutin, and instead of Volkov came Kononov. Rukavishnikov blindly dropped his hands on the block in the running direction and single-handedly covered Ngapeta, 5:6, Yakutin also covered Volvich one to one, 7:8. One more block - Zemchenka - and the score is equal, 9:9. But Zenit is immediately activated, 10:14. The game returns to balance, teams fight beautifully in defense. But when the people of Surgut create a foothold for themselves for a possible pursuit, 17:19, hope with two aces is killed by Surmachevsky, who came out specially for this, 17:22. Shakhbanmirzaev answers again with ace, 20:23, but eight errors in the serve for a set against three for the opponent do not allow Gazprom-Yugra to count on success, 22:25.

In the opening of the third game, Yakutin explodes with two aces. Another powerful serve and Kostylenko scores a challenge ball, 4:1. Kazan in the working mode pushing the reception of the hosts from the grid and pushing the final game, 5:5. Bednorj's feed strikes the cable and brings confusion to the receiving rows, but Kostylenko in vain throws the ball with both hands into an empty fifth zone, 8:6. Zemchenok and Nikishin are equally successful in attack, then does not score from a low pass Chereyskiy, knocks on the block Shakhbanmirzayev, 11:13. Chanchikov caught courage in one drawing, lifting Bednorj's attacks twice, and then still insuring the blow to the Kostylenko block - this rally could give the Surgut residents moral strength, but he is still pressed by Kononov, 12:14. Zenit breaks away with ace Voronkov and a mistake in the attack of the Rukavishnikov-Yakutin link, 16:20. Attempts by the hosts to cling to the game lead to marriage when the ball is put into play, and in the end, Bednorzh again gives two excellent serves: Voronkov in the game brings the match-ball, and then Nikishin, the risk, sends emergency ball out-of-bounds, 19:25.

Captain of VC "Zenit-Kazan" Alexander Butko: Preparing for this game, knew, which will not be easy. We left a year ago with the same score, only in favor of Surgut. Remember this. I am glad, that the team tuned in and won three points. Compared to the first lap, the opponent added, nice to look at - a lot of promising young guys. We are slowly gaining shape, rolling to the playoffs in the Champions League. hope, that in the next two months we will show all, what are you capable of. The past period was very difficult, and in the results, and psychologically it was very depressing. hope, that we went through this moment.

Senior coach of VC "Zenit-Kazan" Maxim Maximov: Surgut tried to give us problems at the reception, somewhere it succeeded - Erwin was wrong twice, which is unusual for him. But we still had the initiative in filing and we took advantage of it. The block advantage comes from the serve., and, probably, young players of Surgut were a little more wrong. In the third set, they gave Ngapeth a rest, Voronkov got involved, passed the reception. They gave Mikhailov a rest, Volkov. Played in Surgut, but still, somewhere subconsciously kept in mind the departure to Poland, you need to be full of strength there.

Senior coach of VC "Gazprom-Ugra" (Surgut) Anton Malyshev: The team is going through a difficult emotional moment. We spent a difficult January and now for every game we seek strength from the very depths of our souls and hearts.. Every game is difficult. The opponent was high today, so the game went according to his drawing. The whole game was roughly equal, the difference was made by a couple of strong and accurate serves and a couple of our unforced mistakes. That's all the difference on the scoreboard. In the third game, somewhere they themselves did not believe in their strength, somewhere Kazan turned on - they have no time to stretch matches before going to the Champions League.

Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut) 0 : 3 Zenit-Kazan (Kazan)

match stats

Details

Date	Time	Championship
20.02.2021	18:00	CR 2020-2021

Results

Team	1	2	3	GENERAL.
Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut)	22	22	19	0
Zenit-Kazan (Kazan)	25	25	25	3

Venue

g. Surgut / SC "Premier Arena"

Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut)

1	2	3	4	5	S	K	E	FACING	B	PTS
0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Zenit-Kazan (Kazan)

1	2	3	4	5	S	K	E	FACING	B	PTS
0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0