Mistakes beat desire

"Gazprom-Ugra" (Surgut): Ozhiganov - Shakhbanmirzaev, Rodichev – Korotaev, Krsmanovich – Kurbatov, Obmochaev

"Zenith" (St. Petersburg): Kobzar - Zheleznyakov, Voronkov – Titich, Ananyev – Safonov, Krivytchenko

Petersburgers arrived in Surgut in a truncated number, but it was enough for victory. The attack was carried out by Fedor Voronkov, Timofey Tikhonov lit up the serve, and Semyon Krivitchenko cemented the defense and technique - yes, that no one remembered the absence of Zhenya Grebennikov. The hosts have Dmitry Kurbatov back in the lineup, and the shortage of finishers led to the appearance of Nikita Alekseev in this role during the match.

The hosts got off to a good start in the opening set. (9:6 after two blocks to Voronkov) turned into 16:18. This is how the teams reached the end – the guests are one step closer to victory. By serving out, Rodichev gave Zenit two set points, Korotaev handled the shooting, and then the block ate Voronkov again, 24:24. Video review of the touch of the blockers after Radjab's shot into touch restored hope to Surgut (26:26), Rodichev swung the balance in his direction by attacking the passing ball, and the decisive ball was again subjected to detailed study on the monitor: after Titich's attack the ball did not hit the blockers, 29:27.

In the second game, Zenit began to play three finishers (Titi?, Voronkov, Tikhonov), and Kovalev came out to pass in the first game. After the mark 14:14 the guests went ahead: first, Voronkov managed a trick on an emergency ball, after which Korotaev scored poor in receiving and attacking, giving way to Alekseev (14:18). The Surgut team tried to return to the game, Rajab even managed to earn a point, hitting a block - the ball bounced at the player and landed on the opponent’s side in a curious way. But Zenit kept the handicap they won, the set was completed by Rodichev's serve into the net.

Rodichev is unstoppable in the third game, The block to Zheleznyakov, who returned to the court, is reminiscent of the first set - 9:6. And also, like in the first game, the guests are catching up, 9:9. Rodichev uses experience to roll an emergency ball into a cauldron, 16:16, but in the next difficult situation it hits out, 16:18. Rudnev, who comes out to serve, knocks his opponent out of the move, works on defense himself, the block to Zheleznyakov completes the matter, 19:18. The hosts again have a pre-game chance, but Zenit copes, and then Tikhonov comes out to serve and delivers a series with an ace, which not only decides the outcome of the game, but also, perhaps, the whole match. Korotaev swims in the reception, he throws the ball into touch in a not very comfortable situation. 19:22 and 21:25 after Ozhiganov's mistake in the transfer.

Getting knocked down in the third set, the hosts did not immediately come to their senses in the fourth. 3:6 after Kovalev's ace into the free zone, another rotation Alekseev-Korotaev, exit Kirillov instead of Ozhiganov and "five minutes" Kurbatov. First Dmitry scores, and then serves a series of tight serves, from which in protracted rallies Zenit cannot escape, 9:10. Replacing Kovalev with Kobzar stabilizes the situation and again Gazprom-Yugra is tormented by Tikhonov’s serve, finishing the series with an ace (and the account “flies away” from 13:15 on 13:19). The hosts respond with a scoring streak performed by Kirillov, which is also “closed” by ace, 20:22. But that's all: Kobzar folds, Voronkov's serve through the rope leads to a freeball and Zheleznyakov's attack, another missed move - and Krsmanovic fails to cope with the emergency attack.

Comments after the game:

Head coach of VC Zenit (St. Petersburg) Viktor Sidelnikov: We missed the first game ourselves. We had two play-offs, could have finished, but, Unfortunately, didn't finish. Until we figured out the arrangements, who passes where, who hits where... I had to change the binders: then one is good, then it's bad, then another. But a team is a team. Good, that there are replacements, binders help each other. The only thing, that I ask them to play with the central ones, but what match have we been playing without a center?, we run into a double block at the edges. Because of this, we attack the block a lot, because the enemy knows, what to expect and plays the ball. The rest is a nervous game. After the first game I had to talk to the guys, we should have won today. Good, what did they play next?, Well done. There were differences, but we kept the lead.

Captain VC "Zenith" (St. Petersburg) Fedor Voronkov: Let's be objective: Our composition is not optimal, let's play, roughly speaking, themes, what's left. Our resource also does not last forever, but we try - sometimes it works, sometimes not. It's hard to play with Surgut, good cohesive team, especially when he plays at home. Well done guys, played selflessly, but we were a little stronger. But a little. After the first game, our setters changed their tactics a little. At first they pointedly passed at me, and then, when the block was already waiting for me, others started scoring. And again - when they let me go, ruptures began to appear in the block, and I scored a little again. A little bit more, what were aces.

Senior coach of VC "Gazprom-Ugra" (Surgut) Denys Harkushenko: By dedication, there are no questions about dedication, but our own marriage has been bothering us all season. We had a chance to win, but the marriage got in the way: where it was necessary to give second gear, don't make a mistake in attack, submit, when points are being scored, we made mistakes and gave oxygen to the opponent.

Captain of VC "Gazprom-Yugra" (Surgut) Alexey Obmochaev: Probably, there wasn't enough clean play. Own mistakes, and elementary ones - in the programs, insurance... They didn’t apply for much. Very sorry, because it was clear from the game, that everything is within our power.

Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut) 1: 3 Zenith (St. Petersburg)

match stats

Details

Date	Time	Championship
08.01.2024	19:00	CR 2023-2024

Results

Team	1	2	3	4	GENERAL.
Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut)	29	21	21	20	1
Zenith (St. Petersburg)	27	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

Zenith (St. Petersburg)

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