After 26: top six

Playoffs are on, and we are just finishing the summing up of the regular season. It's okay - sometimes it's good to look at an event with a slight delay. And our seven-month-long event requires unhurried reflection, unlike fleeting and emotional knockout games. This is where you will find answers to many questions., that may arise during the decisive matches of the championship.

Belgorod residents rebooted and started their way back up the mountain. After the last place last season, it turned out very well, but understandable, that this is only an intermediate camp on the way to the familiar state of one of the leaders of domestic volleyball. The team has a rod diagonal, qualified passer, the veterans were supported by the growing youth - and on the general courage the team is quite capable of being in the Final Six.

but "Yaroslavich" in the season. So really did not reach the usual level Nemanja Petrich, on which there were many hopes. Against this background, the position of the second player (Pavel Tetyukhin's place on the site is almost unshakable) sank, which did not allow Belogoriya to go through the championship more smoothly. Dmitry Kovalev sometimes flirted with sharp volleyball, without giving that stability, which would allow resuming conversations about him, as a candidate for the national team - is it a minus, decide for yourself.

but not yet able to systematically make a result and pull a load of. Muhamed Al-Khachdadi adapted to the Super League right away and became the second scorer of the tournament. Pavel Tetyukhin continues to progress. Pleased the youth - Yegor Sidenko perfectly emerged from behind the back of the Moroccan, recovered Ilya Sdobets looks good (although he is no longer so young), surnames Zabolotnikov, Kuznetsov, Motorygin also sounded very good and promise a lot in the future. Important, that it was Sergey Tetyukhin who accepted the club from the hands of Gennady Shipulin - they willingly go to him, happy to work with him.

For the club, more accustomed to play-out, the current take-off is progress No. 1 in the entire Super League. Cannot be said, that the club did not strive for this - the transfer policy in the offseason spoke exactly about this. But Dynamo had similar attempts to take off before., venerable players were invited, but it just came out. Why? This time we managed to create a single balanced team with a very good line-up depth., which is important in the long run.. Dynamo-LO embodies at the moment the very high-quality average level of the league, to which one must be equal and to which one aspires.

but "Yaroslavich" in the season. Is that Maxim Zhigalov, suddenly found himself in the shadow of Sergei Pirainen, can write the season to itself in minus. But Zhigalov, as it appears, it was quite comfortable in Sosnovy Bor, and intense competition for a place on the site is a tough thing, but quite useful for the players, and for the team, if it does not develop into a stage of conflict.

but not yet able to systematically make a result and pull a load of. Just with conflicts in Dynamo-LO, everything is fine (or bad?), players note the friendly and welcoming atmosphere. In which Denis Biryukov remains at the level of one of the best players in the country, and Sergei Pirainen became almost the main sensation of the championship. It should be noted, that the update on the coaching bridge has also benefited - Alexander Klimkin, what is called, coped. Playoffs ahead, and the chicks ain't counted yet, but a huge step forward this season the club, certainly, already done.

That's for whom the fourth place is not a joy. Petersburgers once again found themselves under an avalanche of injuries, when the players were knocked out one by one, then in series, yes, and for a long time. This factor, certainly, must be taken into account, but it is also important, that all matches with potential competitors for a place on the podium (and the club's management has been dreaming of a championship for a year) have been lost. As a result, Thomas Sammelvuo resigned., and only success in the Final Six can save the season, where the team must go.

but "Yaroslavich" in the season. Viktor Poletaev again spent most of the season in the infirmary, Ivan Podrebinkin tried his best, but in the end, Yegor Klyuka was sent to the diagonal. And further, along the chain - Kluka broke, and then Tina Urnaut was left without a jump: as a result, the team played without a diagonal, then without a couple of main players. At the same time, there were some incomprehensible body movements within the team in mutual understanding with the coach and between the players - the captains changed, Kobzar was sent to the reserve ... In addition to injuries, at some stage the team chemistry did not work. However, this could be a plus, if the correct conclusions were drawn from the situation.

but not yet able to systematically make a result and pull a load of. In the absence of leaders, the reservists performed well, and the acquisition of Fedor Voronkov fully paid for itself. We would like to thank you separately, that they saw the game of Zhenya Grebennikov in defense - this is a textbook. After Sammelvuo, Andrey Tolochko did not drop the banner and may, basically, get out of the situation as a hero. Return (pah-pah-pah) Viktor Poletaev inspires certain hopes in Zenit fans.

The result for Dynamo is twofold. On the one hand, everything is quite decent and worthy, on the other hand, the champion, of course, I wanted to go directly to the Final Six. A little bit lacked: how can one not remember the home defeat from ASK or the lost fifth set in the match with Lokomotiv. However, throwing ashes on your head is definitely not worth it, Muscovites after a triumphant season managed to stay among the top teams and, certainly, will fight to keep the title.

but "Yaroslavich" in the season. Barely visible to the eye, but Tsvetan Sokolov is no longer a cake. The eternal hope for Anton Semyshev is justified every other time, good, there is someone to insure. Sorry for the seriously injured Ilya Vlasov. Pity, that Evgeny Baranov played very little. I have been silent about Romans Shkulyavichus, who has firmly settled out of the game for a long time - but there is nothing to say, such is the fate of all in the "golden cage". Or rather, in the golden square.

but not yet able to systematically make a result and pull a load of. Dynamo has, perhaps, the most hurricane pitch in the Super League. Podlesnykh and Bogdan are very good, periodically enchanting Semyshev, Pankov persistently knocks on the doors of the national team - at least, his general game is the best among all the setters of the country. Dynamo is a team without weaknesses in the prime of life, and Konstantin Bryansky has an understanding, how to get the most out of it.

Siberians very confidently passed the regular season, yielding only to Kazan and, suddenly - "Torch". Lokomotiv resembles the Chinese model of existence as much as possible, where they live not today, but look at the years ahead - not forgetting to cut coupons here and now. Handing out the golden youth (Klets, Sapozhkov, Kreskin, Brazhnyuk, who forgot?) on rentals for pumping skills, are extracting dividends from Abaev and Lyzik with might and main. But, primarily, so far the “old” guard is getting points, stable playing side by side for more than a year. This is the secret of success: stability, experience + youth, depth.

but "Yaroslavich" in the season. Sorry Rodichev, lost the season - at his age it can be a problem. hope, Alexey will return in full. Well, the little things: team sometimes depends on, what foot did Sergey Savin or Gordon Perrin stand on. Players can show phenomenal volleyball, but they happen, just like others, periods of reflection on the frailty of being. At such moments, the very depth of the composition should help out, but in fact this is a potential weak link in decisive matches. The main problem is, it's almost unpredictable.

but not yet able to systematically make a result and pull a load of. Abaev is already knocking on the door of the national team. I would not call his game outstanding, but we have very few setters who are able to consistently and confidently play the game at a given pace, with thought and quality. Especially, at that age. A pair of central Lyzik-Kurkaev will not yield to anyone at all, and also - the level of the national team. And everything else is close. Luburic works out the title of elite scorer, and Konstantinov - one of the best coaches in the league.

Kazan returned to the top level, perfectly enhanced by Maika Christenson and Dmitry Volkov. At the beginning of the season, probably, few expected, that Zenit will begin to write out another protracted series of victories from 20 matches in the championship, but we have a hegemon again. Pity, that next season will have to rebuild again, and sorry for the missed opportunities.

but "Yaroslavich" in the season. Kazan again kills intrigue in the championship. Well, nearly. Well, a word about Fedor Voronkov: which is better - biting your elbows on the site in St. Petersburg or in the square in Kazan? Anyway, for Alexei Verbov, this must have remained something a little itchy, even though he doesn't admit. Here, after all, here's the thing - the budget in Kazan is still large, but not bottomless, as well as the choice of players in the market. In this regard, there is still a certain gap between the elite base and the players of the so-called clip, no matter what the club talks about equality, brotherhood and interchangeability. It's not a minus, it's a given.

but not yet able to systematically make a result and pull a load of. Christenson perfectly folded the puzzle with Volkov, making him the absolute best finisher in the country. Gave what he wanted to the poor man, adapted to Mikhailov ... If earlier the reception in Kazan was not so important, because the team played "give me a lift to Leon", now the reception is not critical, as Christenson will make things right. At the same time, the reception in Kazan is also impressive., and especially defense - how could it be otherwise with Verbov? Even Volvich works at the very surface, how other libero never dreamed. Surmachevsky grew noticeably, no longer just a roleplayer. Only the lazy did not say about Fedorov. Further on all points, including phenomenally stable at his highest level Mikhailov, but we repeat - the current face of Zenit would be completely different without Christenson and Volkov.