Didn't buy a tie

Nothing already decided from a tournament point of view (both teams reached the semi-finals of the Cup of Russia) the final match between Kazan and Surgut suddenly turned into a good show. The hosts put up the best squad available, and the guests suddenly remembered the times, when there were no diagonals in volleyball nature, but there were two binders on the site at once.

Vadim Ozhiganov and Maksim Kirillov passed, being on the back line, and on the front they retrained as forwards. While our team was "drawn" into this unusual "skin", the hosts took advantage of the moment and fled to a distance of five points (5:0). This opening predetermined the course of the entire set, although Gazprom, getting used to, closer to the end they started to snarl, avoiding destruction, 18:25.

In the second game on ace Labinsky (5:5) ace replied Makarenko (8:5), but this course of events did not like the captain of "Zenith" Alexander Volkov. After another excellent serve by our captain, he caught Ionov's discount on the passing ball (what does experience mean!). And then fired an ace (8:7). The formation with Dmitry Krasikov in the fourth zone has become a bottleneck, letting the hosts take the lead (8:10).

All, what the Surgut people managed to do - to stay in sight 2-3 points. In the end, a successful attack by Kirillov and a block by Zemchenko forced Alexei Verbov to take a timeout (21:22), after which Gazprom-Ugra had a chance to level the score. But Kirill Piun did not convert, and Mikhail Labinsky pushed the ball under our block, 21:23. Piun did not submit (22:24), and Zemchenok showed, how to: powerfully put the ball into play, depriving the Surgutians of attack, I won the playoffs myself.

In the third installment, our guys finally got used to the unusual configuration, and Zenit first fell asleep vigilance, and then the game just crashed. After Ace Kirillov (9:4) the owners started up and pulled themselves up a little (13:10), but flew away to "minus 10", losing serially points in each arrangement. To the mark 21:11 everything became very clear, and finished Maxim Kirillov beautifully, two aces in a row.

The fourth set was supposed to answer the question "what was it?» in relation to the previous set. Powerful teams have moments of weakness, bad luck happens, there is fatigue, including emotional. But Zenit didn’t manage to get together and give out a “return line” - largely due to the inspired game of the Surgut people who caught the courage. Nikita Nagaets received well and enchanted in defense, Max Kirillov looked, like a real high-level diagonal (yes he was, plus still passed), Krasikov and Makarenko gave the result at the right moments.

at level 4:4 Nagaets twice drags the most powerful blows of Labinsky in defense, and in the third attempt, Mikhail takes the ball away from the libero - and does not hit the line! Nevertheless, after Makarenko's mistake on the pitch, Zenit seems to have begun to take his (8:10). Surgut residents show their teeth again: Krasikov scores, after Nagayts' smart insurance, Kirillov is accurate, Labinsky covers the block - 13:11. Ace Krasikova - 16:12. Ionov does not use Zemchenko, 20:15. When there is a little bit left before victory, we've run out of attacks. Shcherbinin makes us anxious, 21:20, but Krasikov wins back from the block to the antenna, and Ionov gives out a much-needed ace, through the cable to the fourth zone, 23:20. And then Ozhiganov, caught in the third zone, one to one closes Shcherbinin! Actually, welcome to tiebreak.

Where did Gazprom-Ugra have a chance to put the squeeze on an opponent, if not for fatigue and the associated marriage. Six matches in seven days is too much. Kazan, of course, also not iron, but their roster rotation during the tournament was much more significant. maybe, it played a decisive role. Piun hits out, Krasikov - to the block, Piun - right there, 2:5. Kirill is getting better, cover in Surmachevsky's slippers, but we are going to change sides with not the best alignment, 4:8.

A desperate attack takes place at Kirillov, Zemchenok is covered, and Makarenko accurate – 7:8! Well, then again mistakes: Piun does not serve, Ionov seriously misses the pitch, diverting the ball on the block. Kirillov fights for himself and for the team, clogs, serves well - but strength, seem to be, left him alone. In the end, Makarenko does not serve, Volkov draws up an ace, and Ozhiganov's role-playing from the block flies to his feet, 9:15.

The team fought, showing interesting volleyball, as far as possible under the circumstances. We discovered Kirillov for ourselves as an attacking player with a very fast and high take-off. The guys themselves discovered a second wind in themselves and could win, giving victory for the anniversary of his head coach. But a gift, eventually, consisted in something else - in the desire to fight in even an undeciding match with superior, albeit tired too, opponent's forces. Fight to the end. Rafael Khabibullin did not buy the notorious tie from Surgut, they completed the tournament task and leave Kazan with a sense of accomplishment.

Alexander Gorbatkov, senior coach of VC "Gazprom-Yugra".: “Today our experiment with two binders is due to the fact, that Nikita Alekseev had a big load, and Rajab Shahbanmirzaev is injured. As a result, they gave Nikita a rest., at the same time, they provided the young player with the opportunity to get invaluable game practice against a serious opponent. He is with work, except for small nuances, coped. Despite being tired, agreed to play "for all the money" in any composition. the, what we lost in the fifth game is the lack of skill and stability. At all, the team in Kazan benefited greatly, we go on the rise, let's play together, there is mutual understanding. Not much left before the championship, Let's try to rest and add more ".

Zenit-Kazan (Kazan) 3: 2 Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut)

match stats

Details

Date	Time	Championship
19.09.2022	21:00	KR 2022

Results

Team	1	2	3	4	5	GENERAL.
Zenit-Kazan (Kazan)	25	25	13	21	15	3
Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut)	18	22	25	25	9	2

Venue

g. Kazan
Volleyball Center \"St. Petersburg", 1, Midhata Bulatova Street, 33-th Military town, Farm-2, Privolzhsky district, Kazan, Kazan city district, Tatarstan, Volga Federal District, 420011, Russia

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

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