Thanks for the character!

"Gazprom-Ugra" (Surgut): Ozhiganov – Rudnev, Korotaev – Obmochaev, Krsmanovich – Alekseev, Nagaec

«New» (Novokuibyshevsk): Dosanj – Litvinov, Antonov – Shpilev, Tenants – Shcherbakov, Eremin/Dragunov

On the eve of the game, the virus knocked out Katich from the Surgut team's application, Shevlyakov, Tarasenko and Krasikova, leaving on the list 11 surnames. Forced coaching creativity helped fans see Obmochaev as a finisher, Alekseeva - as a central blocker. The Olympic champion scored in the first set with a single block to Denis Litvinov (No one else from Surgut achieved this feat), Alekseev hit the ball in attack (14:14).

An equal game found a swift conclusion in the end: Litvinov gets a break after Obmochaev's raised discount in a difficult situation (20:22), Rudnev, on a fast pass, looks for contact with the hands of the blockers, but doesn't find it (21:24), and immediately Antonov closes the set with a pipe.

In the second game Obmochaev, who also served as captain in the match, replaced Urmantsev, and when the score 0:2 Shakhbanmirzaev returns to the site instead of Rudnev after a long break. While the newcomers were getting used to it, the guests went further ahead, 6:10 after twisting Rajab into the net on an emergency ball. At Nova, Litvinov produced effective attacks, The rest of the Volga residents did not stand idle either. The Gazprom-Yugra chase started with Urmantsev’s curious ace, the ball went over the rope, 14:17. Krsmanovich covers Shcherbakov one-on-one, 16:18. Another block with Petar's participation, this time in the fourth zone to Antonov, and Oleg Sogrin takes a time out.

Rajab played out and put the finishing touches on the situation on the third try in one play, 21:21. So, nostril to nostril, the teams reached Korotaev's serves. Ivan first brought the freeball, which was implemented by Rajab (27:26), and after a timeout, “Nova” put an end to it with an ace.

In the third game, the opponents again played on balance until the end, alternately coming forward. Ace Rajaba - 13:12, Dosanjh's return shot - 13:14. Kirillov, who came out instead of Ozhiganov in the second set, folded with both hands in the style of Vadim Khamuttskikh, 16:16. The ending was accompanied by the mistakes of the Surgut residents and basic bad luck: Shooter succeeded in his ace on a harmless glider, Gazprom-Yugra's finishers simply relied on each other (18:21). Kirillov closed Shpilev's attack, but the rebound lay within inches of lines, 19:22. Litvinov's attack is raised in defense - the ball goes under the rope (22:24), Korotaev does not place the ball with a transfer into the first zone, 22:25.

Gaining some moral superiority, “Nova” began to go ahead already at the start of the fourth set. Ozhiganov and Rudnev returned to the site, and the score after two consecutive mistakes in Urmantsev’s attack is already 6:10. Rudnev's strike in a single block (6:11) - and Rajab returns. At Nova, Litvinov continued to consistently score points, but Shpilev slowed down in the fourth zone. First, he did a push-up after a powerful serve from Rajab and the diagonal himself completed the game, 14:17. Then Maxim got stuck in the block, 16:18, but he corrected himself, launching an ace butterfly at Korotaev, 16:21.

The Surgut block gets a few more breaks: Antonov and Litvinov were captured, and Ozhiganov’s ace reduces the gap to a minimum, 21:22. Another good serve and Rajab has two chances to level the score., but they stop him too, 21:23. Ace Litvinova, it seemed, puts an end to it, 21:24. But Denis’ serve into the net and attack into touch leave the Surgut team a chance, which Korotaev uses - ace, 24:24! This shootout was just a prelude to a crazy, drawn-out ending., in which the hosts had a set point. With the score 26:25 the Surgut team stopped their opponent's attacks three times with a block, but Shpilev still got back at hands. And then, after Urmantsev’s block, the guests converted only the ninth (!) match point due to Korotaev's shot into touch.

Game of equal opponents, in which everything was decided by the presence of the almost infallible Litvinov in Nova and the objective problems of Gazprom-Yugra in some formations.

Commentary after the game:

Head coach of VC "Nova" Oleg Sogrin: From a layman's point of view, on the part of “Nova” it was necessary to win in such a situation, and win quietly. But sports life is a little different. The wrong one wins, who can do more, and that one, who wants more. We are faced with the crazy desire of our opponents to win. It's not like it came as a surprise to us, we just assumed a different course of the match, what could they be punished for?. I won't tell you everything, the main message was to the consciousness of athletes - to eliminate the number of unnecessary mistakes and build on that, what we can do, you need to build on the quality of your own game, what did we agree on. The match was very difficult for our team, the score speaks for itself. Surgut took a risk, we bet on our opponent's mistakes.

Diagonal VC “Nova” Denis Litvinov: We relaxed a little in the first game, even I hit Obmochaev’s block once (smiles - author.). I thought, that I'll score him, but he made a good block. Good, that they took theirs. The second game was decided by a pair of Korotaev’s serves, his merit - he served well between the players. I think, we just got through it. Surgut has gathered, started playing on impulse. We endured, were waiting for their chance.

Senior coach of VC "Gazprom-Yugra" Denys Harkushenko: At first, I want to say a huge thank you to the guys, they showed a masculine character. Our situation today is not very good., there is a problem, but the guys came out even in this condition and showed a good game, thank them for that. Alexey Obmochaev started in volleyball as a finisher, Nikita Alekseev is simply a versatile player, so we used their capabilities. Yes, it didn't work out a bit, but the guys tried. In the end there was a stop-ball, we didn't score it, didn't make it to the fifth game. lose, but we didn’t know yesterday, who's going to play anyway?, so well done guys. Thank you very much to the viewers for your support.

Captain of the Gazprom-Yugra VC Alexey Obmochaev: I haven't been in the fourth zone for a long time, feelings are generally positive. Pity, of course, that it was not possible to play a positive game in attack. Thanks to the team, that she was able to fight even in such a situation, which we have today. Fought to the end, a little bit was not enough. Your mistakes got in the way, on serve they made a mistake in the ending, didn't score their goals.

Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut) 1 : 3 NOVA (Novokuibyshevsk)

match stats

Details

Date	Time	Championship
16.12.2023	19:00	CR 2023-2024

Results

Team	1	2	3	4	GENERAL.
Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut)	21	28	22	34	1
NOVA (Novokuibyshevsk)	25	26	25	36	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

NOVA (Novokuibyshevsk)

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