Another swing with Fakel in favor of Gazprom-Ugra

"Gazprom-Ugra": Kostadinov village - Nikiforov, Shevlyakov - Demakov, Rodichev - A. Kostadinov, Moiseev

"Fakel-Yamal": Maa - Morozov, Kovalchuk – Mole, Kapanov - Kvochko, Krotkov/Andreev

Slavi Kostadinov broke the equal start with his actions - first he threw an excellent zone to Shevlyakov, and then crushed him with his signature serve, after which Kapranov hit out of bounds on an awkward ball, 9:7. Torch timeout, another powerful shot from Slavi at Kapranov, knocked out technique - Nikiforov's finishing touch, 10:8.

The home team's handicap was increased by two mistakes of the guests' own.: Kvochko padded when Pipe, Kovalchuk hit out, 14:9. Noticeably, what about the American setter, debuted in Russia, There is no proper interaction with partners yet, and the Surgutians continue to finish the game and add pressure through Rodichev, Kostadinova, Nikiforova. Rodichev puts it on the line, 23:17. On the first set point, Mozzhukhin, who came on instead of Kvochko, runs into a triple block, 25:18.

Kvochko opens the second set with an ace, 0:2. Then the Surgut team misses a series of sharp variable serves from Maa, flying away with 3:4 on 3:8 after the American ace established by video review. Rodichev in the block - 3:9. All further attempts to reduce the gap were unsuccessful. Tried by Alexander Kostadinov, performed two cool attacks, 8:14, Litvinov, who came on as part of a double substitution, tried to attack and block Kvochko, 13:18. But the guests confidently kept their distance, continuing to hit with serve. Two allotted techniques led to the final errors of Rodichev and Kostadinov, 16:25.

Slavi started the third set with an ace., extending the series to 3:0. Immediately Maa breaks the distance with a shortened serve - Rodichev did not reach the return, 4:3. The score - and again with an ace - equals Kvochko (8:8) and continues to commit atrocities in this element, not allowing the Ugra residents to invent something on the grid, 8:10. Alexander Kostadinov answers Ace (11:12), Shevlyakov restores the balance with a block to Kovalchuk, 13:13. But not for long, “Fakel” has Kvochko excellent in the fourth zone, attacking diversely and effectively, 14:16.

Slavi's pitch comes to the rescue again, literally taking out Krotkov’s technique, 18:18. The balance twitched after an error on Nikiforov’s serve and Kvochko’s finish from the second zone, 20:22. The key was Rodichev’s attack on the block, giving the guests three set points, 21:24. Surgut residents launched the final assault: Litvinov starred, and in the overture of a protracted rally with an abundance of defensive actions, the block finally overtook Kvochko, 23:24. But Bobrov, came on instead of Rodichev, did push-ups on serve, and Maa calmly decided the outcome of the set through Nikita Krot, 23:25.

In the fourth game at Fakel, Ilya Ivanov came out to pass, we still have Litvinov in our diagonal, and in the final game - Bobrov. Gazprom-Yugra makes a breakthrough again in its debut, 4:1 after blocking Kapranov. Block to Morozov retains advantage, 8:5. Once again Kvochko is on the forefront - he perfectly receives and wins back two difficult goals in a row, 8:7. Ace Morozova, 8:8.

In the middle of the set, Slavi Kostadinov took it upon himself to decide the outcome of the fight - naturally, filing. FROM 11:10 after the zone with Tkachev he went to 16:10, putting three aces - one at the beginning of the series and two in a row at the end. Then he slightly missed the ball in the court, and the guests immediately turned on the return line, finding brother Slavi at the reception. The inability to organize proper filming led to serial missed finishes, in which Kapranov beat the hosts' block three times in a row, 16:15.

The restored balance lasted until the 19:19. Litvinov played an emergency ball from his hands, and then converted a freeball after Bobrov’s clearing serve, 21:19. Kvochko lands on the block again in the end, 22:19. On the court there are long draws, interesting volleyball, and Kostadinov converts the next game on the second attempt, 23:19. The guests are trying to catch up: Mole covers Andreev on a not very successful pass, and Mozzhukhin, who came out instead of Kvochko, makes an ace, 23:22. Shevlyakov earns set points with a discount on the ball passing after defense, Litvinov does not beat the block on an emergency ball from the spot, and the decisive point was scored by Alexander Kostadinov, 25:23.

Fifth set – and again an attempt to escape from Gazprom-Yugra. To begin with, the video review changes the out after Alexander Kostadinov’s attack on the court, 3:2, The host bloc is committing atrocities – Moroz and Kapranov are closed, 4:2, And Kostadinov, But not Slavi, adds another ace to his battle score, 5:2.

The hosts keep their distance with some effort - Litvinov is twice good at finishing long rallies, Kvochko responds with a super attack, but Morozov’s serve into touch sends the teams to change sides, all with the same difference of three points, 8:5.

Kvochko fires a super-sharp serve, but this time the reception works, and Kostadinov hammers the ball in no less confidently, 9:6. Caprane block - 10:6 and it smelled fried. Kapranov and Krotkov did not share the reception of Andreev's glider and Tkachev scores the passing ball, 11:6. The smell of victory is getting stronger. "Fakel" has a feed through Mole, but Kapranov makes mistakes in attack, and Tkachev and Litvinov organize a forest of hands for Kovalchuk, 13:7. Guests earn the last point by video review, which records Tkachev’s blow to the cable, not in the block, but that's all: Litvinov confidently withdraws from the fourth zone, 15:8.

Equal, albeit torn, in general a game with an emphasis on serving and receiving. Whoever “flyed” is on horseback, everything is classic. Kapranov and Kvochko looked more interesting than our finishers, although they lost the decisive goals. Alexander Kostadinov scored for us then, when it was needed most - that's the difference. Plus, Gazprom-Yugra’s diagonal worked much more effectively.

Comments after the game:

The head coach of the Takl-Yamal VK Roman Empolov: It's not about the fifth game. We were leading 2:1. On important goals we cannot yet take responsibility, there is no person on the team, who will be more cold-blooded in the end. Emotions still dominate us, over the players' decisions. Young.

We are just approaching the start of the championship, and I can tell, that every game is important. Couldn't win, because the opponent served well: We played the entire fourth game on high balls, although we managed, caught up with the account 10:16. In the fifth game there was not enough diagonal, I find. Played poorly. There was a reception, didn't play diagonal. Need even more time, train, try. All these games are good for us.

Coach of VC Gazprom-Yugra Alexander Chefranov: Legionnaires will now arrive at Fakel, one is already included, the second one will be added, in any case it will be a different team. Their game design will change. At the moment they have, apparently, no interactions are perfect, is felt, that there is a misunderstanding.

We played our game, they didn't invent anything, the, what we have gained, that and showed that. At some point, “Fakel” increased its supply, this caused us some problems. There were a lot of heavy balls from our side, which our wingers attacked, respectively, we simplified the serve and the opponent began to tear us apart on the block.

The most important, that they were able to return to the game - with substitutions, thanks to our bench. Guys, which came out of the square, brought fresh emotions, fresh strength. In the fifth game, the block defense element played well, We got a lot of goals in defense and were able to finish the game.

Diagonal VC "Gazprom-Yugra" Denis Litvinov: It's not over yet, you have to go to Urengoy and win there. Good game. I think, we just made fewer of our own mistakes.

Gazprom-Yugra (KhMAO-Yugra) 3: 2 Torch Yamal (New Urengoy)

match stats

Details

Date	Time	Championship
11.10.2025	19:00	KR 2026

Results

Team	1	2	3	4	5	GENERAL.
Gazprom-Yugra (KhMAO-Yugra)	25	16	23	25	15	3
Torch Yamal (New Urengoy)	18	25	25	23	8	2

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

Torch Yamal (New Urengoy)

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