optimistic defeat

Surgut conceded "Kuzbass", imposing a stubborn fight champion in three of the four sets. And this despite the fact, that the very vague game of the season showed Maciej Muse, periodically and traditionally "limping" fourth zone, and we were in shock kemerovchan Victor Poletaev, Dmitry Pashitskii and Jaroslav Podlesnykh.

In the first set, the hosts let the guests lead on Poletaev’s serves – with 5:6 on 5:9. The protracted chase was crowned with success by the middle of the game - Kobzar made two mistakes, 16:16. But Kuzbass easily restored their superiority - among the Surgut team, Kostylenko alternates a harmless discount with a blow to the block, Doesn't forgive the underlings, plus Kobzar hits an ace, 17:21. Kostylenko still scores a point, Podlesnykh lands in Shchadilov’s block – and Gheorghe Cretu is forced to take a time-out, 19:21. After the break, Artem Khabibullin bets on Muzai on a missed move, but he doesn’t help out - one of his attacks is raised and returned through Karpukhov, and two more times Maciej does not place the ball in the court, 19:25.

In the second game, the hosts earn a good handicap in the opening (6:3) and try to keep him, which is facilitated by two aces in a row from Khabibullin - 10:6. Artem blocks an attack on a passing ball, but touches the mesh, Karpukhov earns an ace, 11:10. Pashitsky comes out to serve and torments Gazprom-Yugra’s finishers with a glider - Kostylenko is withdrawn already at the “minus”, 13:14. Unstoppable Poletaev - 14:17. Surgut residents eliminate two out of three breaks, activating the game on the block and in defense, besides, Pashitsky is mistaken, put a "roof" on the net ball, 19:20. Kostylenko insures the rebound from the block after his own attack and Chireysky scores on a clean net - the Kemerovo residents did not believe it, that this is possible, 20:20.

Muzai could have interrupted the protracted game on balance in the final game when the score was 24:23, but he was stopped, and Karpukhov unscrewed the ball from the block. Ace Poletaeva converted the set point to the Kuzbass side (25:26), Pluzhnikov's ace returned the advantage to Gazprom-Yugra (28:27), and the protracted ending ended with a closed attack by Kostylenko, 29:31.

In the third set, the hosts established a reception, which allowed Artem Khabibullin to rebuild his tactics - he actively uses the first tempo, and from under it periodically quickly sends finishers to a single block. Good Dovhan, Kostylenko straightened his shoulders. Muzai's first attack passed, when the score has passed the halfway point of the game, 17:15. At Kuzbass he continued to work in cyborg mode Poletaev, and when Muzai didn't put the ball on the line, the score is even, 20:20. The second swing in a row in the end this time swung towards the hosts, although the guests had a match point after Podlesnykh’s ace (28:29) - but Karpukhov hit out of bounds in the final game. Once again, at the decisive moment, Khabibullin activates Muzai, and this time Maciej is twice accurate, 32:30.

In the fourth set, Kobzar and Podlesnykh stamp pipes, Kerminen works wonders in defense, active Poletaev – 3:5. Chereysky makes an ace, 5:5 – the game rolls into a smooth and equal channel. Surgut residents Salparov does an excellent job, balancing and even surpassing one’s counterpart is another matter, that in the final game the attackers do not always turn his efforts into points. The game of the Surgut team begins to fail after the mark 14:14. Everything seems to be fine, Muzay just hit a fastball, and Shchadilov almost caught Poletaev with a single block, but then Bogdan Glivenko comes out to serve. Salparov continues the extravaganza on the back line, but it doesn’t come to the point of roleplaying, and when the ball flies to the finishers, they “provide” Kuzbass with easy passing goals – 14:18. Ace Glivenko, 14:19. Muzay in block on high ball, 14:20. Game done?

But the owners do not want to give in, and the guests, seem to be, Believed in success a little early. Khabibullin throws with both hands into an empty “cauldron”, 19:23. Fighting back in defense, the Surgut team takes another break through Shchadilov’s attack on the withdrawn ball, 20:23. Avdochenko's serve into the net gives Kuzbass four match points, three of which were won back - earned a block, 23:24. But when salvation took real shape, Poletaev was flawlessly removed from the fourth zone, 23:25.

As a matter of fact, it was his play that predetermined the success of the Kemerovo residents. And this kind of optimism appeared in the actions of the owners: if we can fight on equal terms with the champion, virtually eliminated from the game Muzaya, periodically receiving from dropping and falling into a coma in the fourth zone, then what we can potentially do? Optimistic, need to say, it was a defeat.

Captain of the Kuzbass VC (Kemerovo) Igor Kobzar:

Played point to point, interesting score on the scoreboard. the main thing, what the fans liked, and that the score is in our favor. The Surgut team is a good opponent. If you don't show your best with her, the hassle begins. They constantly kept us on our toes, there was no handicap when entering the ending, but the class still showed and we won these endings. We were preparing against Muzai, he used to receive the lion's share of assists, we were waiting for him, but today Surgut turned the game a little differently.

Senior coach of VC "Gazprom-Ugra" (Surgut) Yuriy Melnychuk:

The first batch had a lot of its own defects, there was some lack of self-confidence. Then we found our rhythm and began to perform the installation, those moments, who spoke before the game, a lot has started to work out. It's a pity, that we lost the second set - we had the opportunity to finish, but it did not work. Played point to point with the champions. Is there room to add?, but there are also positive aspects. Muzai has lost a little physical condition, he has some minor damage, we'll try to get him to the next game. As a result, the level of the same Poletaev affected - it was he who decided the last goal. In the second game we didn't decide, and these players don't give a second chance. Let's move, there's a new game on Wednesday.

Libero VK "Gazprom-Ugra" (Surgut) Theodore Salparov:

We fought today. "Kuzbass" today – best team in Russia, and we showed good volleyball against her, except for the first batch. We didn’t have enough to score the decisive goals in the final game – if we had won the second game, the game would be psychologically turned upside down. In the end they won, which means, we have room to grow, we need to draw conclusions and work. If we approach every game like this, we have good chances to please Surgut.

For me personally, this is a challenge - in 37 yo show yourself, keep in good shape. I'm qualifying for the Olympics in January., if we don't get away, I'll leave the team. So I will strive to play my best volleyball, so that our hall is even more full - this is the seventh player.

Gazprom-Yugra (KhMAO-Yugra) 1: 3 Kuzbass (Kemerovo)

match stats

Details

Date	Time	Championship
23.11.2019	18:00	CR 2019-2020

Results

Team	1	2	3	4	GENERAL.
Gazprom-Yugra (KhMAO-Yugra)	19	29	32	23	1
Kuzbass (Kemerovo)	25	31	30	25	3

Venue

g. Surgut / SC "Premier Arena"

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

Kuzbass (Kemerovo)

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