IN SEARCH OF POSITIVE
Surgut much better entered the game - aggressive served, better accepted (the benefit of the submission of the owners did not set serious tasks), attacked faster. Regular result - 25:19. In the second game it was fastened equal struggle, we began to make mistakes more often and experienced the first difficulties on the glider of Igor Filippov. Asom Filippov equalizes the score in the end - 20:20, we take a break after Oleg Antonov's attack on the block, 22:20, but again we miss the advantage - 22:22. In a long valid game we get the 23rd point, and then a controversial episode occurs - the residents of Surgut literally tear the ball off the floor, Ufa residents decide, that the ball has touched the court and they stop playing - but the referee’s whistle is silent, set point for Gazprom-Yugra. The episode is really controversial, but the unspoken volleyball rule says, that you need to play until the end.
Anyway, The Ufa team pinned Ursov in the fourth zone and leveled the score. The balance fluctuated until the mark 27:27, then Krsmanovic scores, and Chefranov gets back from the block on the second attempt, 29:27.
Logically, we should have gained a psychological advantage, in fact, the owners got wound up, and the people of Surgut looked devastated. The main problem is that reception has deteriorated, and at the organized block, Gazprom-Yugra began having problems with rent. When a team through individual heroic actions, it seemed, was returning to the game - take at least Malyshev’s epic save of the ball in defense after Titich’s attack, – we immediately cooled ourselves down with trivial errors in the serve and more, here I already remember Shchadilov’s hit on the ball going into touch.
The opponents reached the end with a significant advantage of Ural, 20:13, but the remaining segment of the game was left to the guests - Vladimir Ivanov successfully entered the game, converted three difficult goals in attack. The home team won, 25:20, but there is still hope for the fourth set.
Alas, in the fourth game the situation only worsened - Ural pinned down with a serve, from under which it became simply impossible to get out of the fourth zone, no Ursov, neither Shchadilov could cope with difficult balls, and Titich over and over again realized extra plays. Separately, it is worth mentioning Alexander Abrosimov, which the, perhaps, set a personal record for blocks. Generally, 16:25 and already very weak hopes for a tie-break.
In the shortened set, Gazprom-Yugra tried to fight and cling to victory, but... The first breakthrough of “Ural” on Miskevich’s serves – 1:4. Blocking Titić doesn’t help either – the ball is insured and scored through Abrosimov, 2:5. Once again Malyshev fails to cope with Kovalev’s glider, 4:8. We fight back in defense - Chefranov does not beat Filippov’s single block on a difficult ball, 5:9. Another pre-game chance – Krsmanovic is forced to pass and makes an error, 5:10. Reception of Feoktistov's serve to the opponent's side - Filippov scores the passing ball, 5:11…
Last attempt to cling to the game - the team carries several dead balls in defense, and Chefranov sends his hard-earned goods into touch, 6:12. That's all, such a lag is not recouped, 9:15.
What can I say... If you look for the positive, for which we went to Ufa, he is at the beginning of the match. We can handle aggressive team play, if they let us play like this. As soon as the opponent turns on the service options, establishes a technique and begins to break the block with quick play on the net - we do not have enough resources to resist. No one to solve emergency balls, no stable play in the fourth zone, the effectiveness of reception instantly decreases, from which, as known, everything is dancing. There seems to be no one to blame, everyone is trying and giving their best, and the bottom line is defeat. Objectively speaking, the point gained is the maximum possible today, for a different result we would have to be very lucky. And you're lucky, as known, the strongest.
A little more positive – the dynamics of the team’s performance, if we take the third round match with Novaya as a starting point, got better. If progress continues, we can talk about more. But not yet today.
Senior coach of Gazprom-Yugra Yuriy Melnychuk commented on the defeat from Ural (2:3) in the Russian Volleyball Championship match.
– We started well, won 2:0 , what happened then? Psychology broke down or “Ural” turned on?
– We started well, I was in a winning mood, the third game was key, gave Ural the opportunity to play out. We couldn’t get back into the game. Lacked a little concentration, primarily, to accept, in the execution of serves - this affected.
– Fourth defeat in a row, especially like this – 2:0 won. What is the psychological state of the team?, what to do next, so as not to break down?
- We need to win, then there will be a normal psychological state, - said Melnychuk.
"Ural" (Ufa) – Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut) 3:2 (19:25; 27:29; 25:20; 25:16; 15:9).
