Beat, but did not beat Shakhtar
The final day of the Surgut cup battles started with a dry loss of the unmotivated “Kuzbass” to “Ugra-Samotlor”. But the second game between Gazprom-Yugra and Shakhtar was fundamental. At first, the Surgut residents really wanted to take revenge from the Soligorsk team for their losses at the Platonov Memorial and the first round of the Russian Cup in Kemerovo, and secondly, try to get ahead of Shakhtar in the standings. The first was completely successful, but the second one didn’t work out, because it was necessary not to give a single set to the opponent.
Note, that our guys entered the match in an unusual lineup: Kirillov - Alekseev, Ionov – Shevlyakov, Korotaev – Urmantsev. After Shakhtar's diagonal ace Alexander Safonov (3:7) step by step the residents of Surgut began to approach the opponent. Alekseev did not take the first real chance to get close after Urmantsev’s excellent serve in the final game – 11:14. He failed to take advantage of Kirillov’s low pass on the set, 15:18. But then Krasikov, who came on as a substitute, gave out a series of innings, and Urmantsev in the fourth zone converted the play into break balls, 18:18.
In the end, the teams exchanged double substitutions Ozhiganov-Rudnev/Egorov-Avdotchenko, Urmantsev scored an ace (21:21), and the outcome of the set was largely decided by Ionov’s power glider: Shakhtar swam in reception, and the set ended with an ace from our middle blocker, 25:22.
At the very beginning of the second game, Alekseev was replaced by Rudnev. It was an even fight until the middle of the set. (15:14), and then the video review found Shakhtar touching the block after an emergency search for fingers from our diagonal. And off we go: Shevlyakov caught Marchenko's discount with a block, Rudnev scores, Avdotchenko block, ace Krasikova, Fiel's kick into touch - 21:15. Belarusians have never recovered from this, The game was closed by an excellent series of serves by Vyacheslav Rudnev, 25:16.
The third set was decisive: the winner took a ticket to the play-offs for the right to play in 1/8 finale. Guests coped better with anxiety, and specifically - the playmaker Artem Masko, substituted during the match. With his direct participation (effective attack and two aces) Shakhtar organized a lead 7:8 on 7:12. Then the Surgut residents missed several opportunities to join the chase (attacks by Korotaev and Rudnev into touch), and the cold-blooded Masko put an end to it with two aces (15:24), after which the rivals exchanged meaningless attacks, 16:25.
In the fourth set, Shakhtar noticeably refreshed their lineup, but I had no intention of giving in. Lag 8:11 attack and ace reduced Rudnev to a minimum. Then there was a series of mutual video viewings, in which at first Korotaev’s block on Avdotchenko went to the advantage of the guests (the rebound went into touch), and then Rudnev earned a point in the same way (14:14). The Surgut team added on serve and block: Avdotchenko is closed again, released Ozhiganov makes an ace, Rudnev – two, between them Ozhiganov catches Masko’s attack, 23:18. Shakhtar is trying to improve the situation with substitutions, but in vain: Ionov brings match point, which Gazprom-Yugra implements on the second attempt - the crush on both sides of the site leads to, that Ozhiganov is still squeezing his way to the ball, but his counterpart Kurash rests on his partner, 25:21.
Head coach of VC Shakhtar Soligorsk Viktor Beksha: Leading in the first game 2-3 points, we made a lot of mistakes in the end, what didn't allow us to win. In the second game, Surgut took the initiative, they served great, played great defense, it was hard for us to achieve, played on high balls. In the third game they turned the tables, that they themselves began to serve well, made it difficult for the opponent to organize an attack. In the fourth - again a series of mistakes. What is, that is. We wanted to win, but not everything worked out, can, lack of experience in such matches. Tried, but they couldn't. It's OK, go ahead, task completed.
Senior coach of VC "Gazprom-Yugra" Surgut Denys Harkushenko: We entered that first, that the second batch is very bad, there was a lot of my own marriage. Well done guys, that you overcame yourself, it's excitement, since many were starting for the first time at this level. They withstood the pressure. In the third game, the opponent's player came out to serve (Masko - approx. order.), whom, of course, we sorted it out, but he served very well first in the fifth zone, then I twisted it to the first one, we swam a little. This is volleyball, let's move on. Three games with Shakhtar have already been played, and with every game we have improvement. Today's game is proof of this. I think, this is a good foundation for the future.
3: 1 
Miner (Soligorsk)Details
| Date | Time | Championship |
|---|---|---|
| 24.09.2023 | 19:00 | KR 2023 |
Results
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | GENERAL. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut) | 25 | 25 | 16 | 25 | 3 |
| Miner (Soligorsk) | 22 | 16 | 25 | 21 | 1 |
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 |
Miner (Soligorsk)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | S | K | E | FACING | B | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
