Not our game

"Gazprom-Ugra" (Surgut): Ozhiganov - Shakhbanmirzaev, Korotaev - Katich, Krsmanovych - Tarasenko, Obmochaev

ASK (Nizhny Novgorod): Jovanovich - Antonov, Pyatyrkin - Karpukhov, Zakhvatenkov – Panasenko, Zelenkov

Already in the opening of the match there were three mistakes by Rajab (hit the block and hit twice out) gave the guests a serious handicap, and then there’s an ace from Antonov - 2:6. Another powerful serve from Denis, but the diagonal ASC cannot cope with the fruits of its own freeball work, buried in the block. The Surgut team tried to catch up thanks to Ozhiganov's ace (9:11), but received a series of powerful serves in response and failed 11:16 – Rajab again failed to beat the block.

Nevertheless, The owners succeed in their next attempt at chasing: Korotaev scores an emergency goal through touch, Krsmanovic closes down Pyatyrkin's attack, Antonov was stopped by a block, 17:19. On the feeds of Kirillov, who came out especially for this mission, the Surgut residents, it seemed, join the fight at the finish line. Tarasenko hits three meters on the second attempt, the next protracted rally is also in favor of Gazprom-Yugra, ASK is looking for a spade when attacking with a pipe from Korotaev and does not find it - 21:22.

But that's where it all ended. Kirillov filed out, For some reason Ozhiganov continues to experiment with the first tempo in a non-obvious situation - Tarasenko does not break the net on a low ball. On a set point, the move gives ASK a finish to the game, which Karpukhov implements.

In the second set, Shevlyakov replaces Tarasenko on the court. Starting 0:3 the owners quickly turn into 3:3, and then leave with 4:6 on 9:6 on serves by Krsmanovych. It's a long double-edged game with lots of defensive play and net balls., in which the advantage is on the side of Gazprom-Yugra. Two powerful shots from Ozhiganov’s serve – Rajab and ace, 15:10.

The hosts have every chance to go into a deep lead, but another freeball is not converted by Rajab, and then the judges fix Korotaev’s spade during the pipe, with which Ivan wins the next play-off ball. Video preview demonstrates, that the judges were wrong, but a replay in such a situation is not in favor of the hosts: instead 17:11 they receive 16:12 and revived guests. Katic has obvious problems interacting with Ozhiganov, the captain scores a point with some incredible hook, 18:14. But in the future neither he, neither Rajab can handle it on the net, and Nizhny Novgorod residents, through the efforts of Antonov and Pyatyrkin, are leveling out the situation, 20:20.

Ozhiganov does not take risks on serve and ASK has no problems with removal through Panasenko, 21:21. But Antonov charges with all his might from nine meters away and Pyatyrkin is impeccable in finishing the game, 21:24. Rajab is finally filming, Pyatyrkin's attack on the rope on an overly fast ball gives the hosts hope, which Korotaev puts out with a serve into the net.

In the third game against Gazprom-Yugra, Tarasenko returned to the field, Rajab was replaced by Alekseev, and during the set, Urmantsev came out instead of Katich. The game went on in waves, then in the other direction to the mark 11:11. Ozhiganov hits a clean ace, wrong, Antonov responds with two aces - 12:14. Alekseev tears off the hands of the blocker (15:17), but immediately serves out. Urmantsev can't come up with anything in the four, and Yovanovic baffles the hosts of Surgut with a simple glider, 15:20. Alekseev is still trying to fight, but there is no one to support him: Korotaev is closed by a block. Ace Zakhvatenkova answers all questions (18:24), and Ozhiganov’s serve into touch brings victory to ASK.

"Gazprom-Ugra" fought as best he could:

Senior coach of VK ASK Viktor Nikonenko: Looked, dismantled, well prepared, the guys completed the installation, did a great job. We had a drawdown in the second game due to lack of supply. After the first game, I gained some confidence in my own abilities., simplified the submission, but the coach reached out to the players, said the right words - and everything returned to normal. We showed character in the end and put the finishing touches on our opponents. Today everything happened according to analysis, according to analytics. Surgut, so to speak, couldn't surprise us, and we played more consistently. Rajab was the main striker, everyone saw, what he did in the match with the Leningrad region, his numbers. There was an understanding, that they will sit on it and ride. He was our first target.

Captain of VK ASK Alexander Pyatyrkin: We needed a victory. If you look at all times of the existence of ASK, Surgut is one of the main rivals. To be higher in the standings, they need to be beaten. It’s very difficult to play in Surgut, not only ASC, but also to other teams, but we had to win. We missed the start of the season, lost three games and didn't look very good, We desperately needed this game. We went out and it happened, that the bill turned out to be 3:0 Then Matvey Pipunyrov got lucky on the pitch, but I think, that at any moment everything could turn over. Strange for me, that Surgut did not have enough emotions today. Lesha Obmochaev was running, shouted, encouraged everyone and at the end Nikita Alekseev came out, who started to turn everyone on, not just the team, but also the stands, gave some emotion, but there were only two such people.

Senior coach of VC "Gazprom-Yugra" Denys Harkushenko: If you remember my interview after the last game, I said, that a player's skill lies not in, to play well in one match, but in, to spend the whole season at this level. Unfortunately, We still lack this skill. Not only Rajabu, but also to the whole team. The numbers show, that we attacked twice as bad, than your opponent. ASK served very well, but we more or less managed the reception, but with the attack - no longer. As for the lack of attunement to the opponent, there was none. Quite the opposite, burned out from great desire. It’s too early to sound the alarm, Today one element was missing - attack.

Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut) 0 : 3 ASK (Nizhny Novgorod)

match stats

Details

Date	Time	Championship
08.11.2023	19:00	CR 2023-2024

Results

Team	1	2	3	GENERAL.
Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut)	21	23	18	0
ASK (Nizhny Novgorod)	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

ASK (Nizhny Novgorod)

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