Semi-final practice

In the first match of the semi-finals of the Cup of Russia, Gazprom-Ugra lost to Zenit St. Petersburg in a semi-training mode. Without Maciej Musai, but with Nikita Kozlov, the Surgut team measured their capabilities - and lost to the powerful Halo Cameho and a more organized block of the opponent.

In the first set, we kept the Zenit team in sight until the mark 9:11, it's Dougan charging power ace in Kameho. But then we gave away three breaks on Poroshin’s gliders and two more on the powerful serves of the Cuban finisher, 10:18. In fact, this predetermined the outcome of the game. Shot down reception, toothless attack in the fourth zone, where everyone scrolled, except for Avdochenko – the other side of Zenit’s powerful serve and high organized block, 19:25.

In the opening of the second game, we were beaten with serve by the same Camejo - two aces and a follow-up by Yakovlev between them, 4:6. Khabibullin, who came on instead of Rukavishnikov, sets the pace, and Kozlov serves right through, 9:9. Another ace from Dovgan and a mistake from Poroshin allow us to neutralize Camejo’s successes in the fourth zone, 12:12. And then we make an impressive breakthrough on Khabibullin's serve: Dovgan scores a challenge ball, Pirainen does not allow Divis into the line, Podrebinkin attacks into touch plus Artem's ace, mined through rope touch, 19:14.

“Zenith” responds in kind – Podrebinkin is removed, block closed Pirainen, Divish hits an ace, and the cable returns the favor at Filippov’s serve, the ball barely falls over it and falls vertically into the court, 20:19. In the end it was the difference in the fourth zone: while Galimov and Kostylenko, who replaced him, fought the block with varying success, Camejo churned out killer attacks, 21:22. And then, hanging in the air, slammed the discount of our diagonal. In the end, Pirainen ended up withdrawing., attacking in line, and Zenit scored the last two points in the center of the net - Yakovlev was accurate, and they were waiting for the zone performed by Chereisky, 22:25.

Gazprom-Yugra started the third set cheerfully - 4:1, but immediately let himself be caught up, Camejo scored another ace, 4:4. The game was even until the middle of the set., after which the Surgut team began to gradually let go of their opponent: Rukavishnikov makes a perfect pass into the milk, the reception is lame - 14:18. Pluzhnikov, who came out to serve, scores his first ace of the season., 16:18, then we drag Divisha's discount, but we can’t really manage the ball, and Pirainen, seeing a "window" along the line, powerfully attacks... into the antenna, 16:20. Podrebinkin's short serve catches Shchadilov by surprise, 16:21. For some time, the residents of Surgut “surface” – take out the ball that has flown to the opponent’s side and cover it with Filippov’s block, and then the Camejo pipe, 18:21. But the Cuban scores again from his native “four”, Shchadilov touches the net on the block - while, that the St. Petersburg team is attacking out of bounds, and Dovgan serves out of bounds to put an end to it, 20:25.

Surgut residents joined the game sporadically, concentration was rarely maintained at the proper level at least 5-6 draws in a row. Against this background, Zenit was quite comfortable in realizing its superiority in the fourth zone and in the center of the net. The benefits of the last match for Gazprom-Yugra, Nevertheless, yes - we tested the general level of the game, which allows you to stay on equal terms with high-level opponents. All that remains is to learn how to hold it for a more or less long playing time.

Zenith (St. Petersburg) 3: 0 Gazprom-Yugra (KhMAO-Yugra)

match stats

Details

Date	Time	Championship
15.11.2019	16:30	KR 2019

Results

Team	1	2	3	GENERAL.
Zenith (St. Petersburg)	25	25	25	3
Gazprom-Yugra (KhMAO-Yugra)	19	22	20	0

Venue

g. New Urengoy

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

Gazprom-Yugra (KhMAO-Yugra)

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