Not Texas
"Gazprom-Ugra" (Surgut): Kostadinov village - Nikiforov, Shevlyakov - Andreev, Rodichev - A. Kostadinov, Moiseev
"Bitter" (Nizhny Novgorod): Filippov – Zheleznyakov, Dovgan - Shcherbakov, Nikitin – Masko, Ishchenko/Konev
In each game, the hosts made serial mistakes in attack: in two out of five cases the series was corrected, in three - no. It all started with the first of many aces from Slavi today, 2:1. Next - an equal game until the mark 12:12. Then Filippov contrived to pass a low ball to Zheleznyakov and he dug it into the court, Rodichev did not beat Filippov and Shcherbakov on the block, Nikiforov sent the ball into touch on a clean net, 13:16. Slavi took over - and also out, 14:17.
Tkachev's appearance instead of Alexander Kostadinov on serve brought dividends: Nikitin made a mistake in attack in a protracted rally, and then an ace happened with the touch of the rope, 19:19. Equal ending? Not a bit of it: Nikiforov on a single block into touch, Shevlyakov could not dodge the hands of Shcherbakov, but here, rather, the trick to the net worked against the hosts. And... Nikiforov runs into Nikitin’s single block and gives way to Litvinov for the count 19:23. Litvinov immediately receives the ball - again a block, and Slavi also leaves the site. Kirillov manages to beautifully give Shevlyakov his head, but that's all: Andreev touches the net, although Nikitin’s attack was caught, 20:25.
The mood for the second set is set by two aces in a row from Slavi, 5:2. Filippov is good at blocking again, or rather, bad Kostadinov, 5:4. Rodichev corrects the situation with two attacks, 8:5. Shevlyakov catches Dovgan, Masko touches the net in the overture of a protracted rally, 12:7. Rodichev worked in defense on his serve, the ball began to fall along a high trajectory near the net, Slavi did not calculate the trajectory and instead of the Grankin-Khamuttskikh feint, he received a game projectile falling on his territory. Nevertheless, the advantage was not only maintained, but also to increase: Alexander Kostadinov served powerfully, Nikitin fought back from the block, and Zheleznyakov made a rare mistake, attacking into touch, 16:10.
Well, then Slavi came out to serve and completely destroyed the guests. Two aces plus freeball, implemented by Shevlyakov, 21:12. "Gorky" had replaced half the squad by this time, Tselishchev and Kolmakov came out as part of a straight double plus Nikitina replaced Kulkov. Rodichev immediately felt Kulkov with a serve - he let him into the court, 23:13.
But even in this game the hosts found an opportunity to let go of the reins: Konev worked in defense, Kolmakov and Kulkov scored, Mascoe ace, 23:17. Kostadinov finally starred, but Kulkov did the same, Dovgan knocked out Moiseev with a serve, and Kolmakov realized a freeball, 24:19. unknown, how things would have turned out, if Dovgan had not sent it wide, 25:19.
Third set and again two aces from Slavi in the opening, which equalize the score and put the hosts ahead, 8:7. Then Gazprom-Yugra misses a freeball on Rodichev’s serve: Shevlyakov rests on Dovgan’s hand. Now the free ball from "Gorky" and Dovgan is accurate, 9:10. Slavi doesn't guess with the height of the pass to Tkachev on the withdrawn ball, 10:12.
Litvinov seems to be catching the wave, scores twice (12:13), but immediately falls under a double non-obvious substitution. Nikiforov can't do anything in attack, and Kirillov directs Rodichev to Dovgan, who plays superbly on the block, 14:17. Reverse double and Litvinov catches Masko with a single block in a protracted rally, 16:18. The hosts increase the pressure and finish three times in a row through Alexander Kostadinov, the third time it was a very long rally with excellent defense from the visitors, but Alexander put an end to it with a beautiful translation of the “four by four” brush, 21:20. Nikitin immediately unsuccessfully cosplays Alexander - a steep “bend” leads into touch, 22:20.
From this place the guests showed, how to pull out endings. Nikitin starred, and Zheleznyakov scored an ace without options, 22:22. Instead of Filippov, Dranishnikov releases Tselishchev to strengthen the block - it worked. Allotted technique – Kostadinov fails, 22:23. Long draw after a failed discount, the hosts block the visitors' attacks twice, everything is picked up and returned there - through Nikitin, 22:24. Tkachev and Zheleznyakov exchange attacks, 23:25.
In the fourth set, the hosts jumped right off the bat: 5:1 then the Zheleznyakovu block by Aleksandra Kostadinova. Guests cling and pull themselves up, but the gap is 3-4 manages to keep the points. In one of the draws, the hosts’ block competed with the guests’ insurance, until Nikitin’s blow bounced into Shcherbakov’s head - as a result, Gorky head coach Andrei Dranishnikov was injured, received a “mustard plaster” for excessive emotions about this, 13:9. After a short time, Shevlyakov breaks the distance even further with an ace under the baseline, 17:12. But then comes the traditional unstressed period: Kostadinov blocked twice, Litvinov – out, 19:18.
Litvinov, instead of an ace, after watching, chalks up an out, 21:20. Masko disrupts a freeball with a blow into touch (22:20), but it soon gets better, closing Litvinov's attack, 22:22. Litvinov is back on the block, but Rodichev saves the situation, Zheleznyakov answers, 23:23. Rodichev's blow is softened, but the guests touch the net, which is confirmed by video viewing, 24:23. Well... ace from Slavi, 25:23.
In the tiebreaker, Rodichev knocks Dranishnikov down with his first blow. A rare mistake by Zheleznyakov and a late game by Shevlyakov mark the home team's advantage, 4:2. Slavy's pass from the fifth meter finds Shevlyakov's hand, 5:3. Alexander Kostadinov is inventing something strange, throws the ball with both hands with his back to the net, let's call it perengapetil. But then, angry at myself, scores twice, second time with pipe, 7:4. This is where we should go to change sides, but it broke out again on the Dovgan block, who first caught Shevlyakov, and then Rodicheva, 7:7. Litvinov sends teams to the “shift change”, in the debut of which the Surgut residents catch that same unstressed vibe: block to Rodichev and Litvinov, and then Masko’s completion of the game after an incomprehensible statement from the substitute Nikiforov, 8:11.
The situation is again equalized by Slavi Kostadinov. First with your own attack, then with ace and organization - after the Gorky timeout – passing ball, which Tkachev scored, 11:11. Equal ending? After 12:12 Rodichev served out, aiming the corner of the site, 12:13. At this mark, the guests switched on the “ball will not fall” mode, they literally tore him off the site and returned him to the owners, bye, having worked in defense in turn, made a little mistake in the throw - the ball fell into touch, 12:14. Tkachev's attack is being dragged again, Nikitin hits an unspecified place - the review states, that the ball is in the field, 12:15.
The guests won exactly there and then, where and in what are they strong?: in endings and overall gameplay. The hosts’ performance on the block should be much more significant, Gorky simply secured a bunch of blockings and brought them back into the game. The hosts did not give themselves the chance to reach the end with the advantage necessary to play against such an opponent, allowing serial defects in attack. Overall equal game, in which victory is taken to Nizhny Novgorod. Surgut cannot yet become that same Texas, in which Texas wins. No wonder - it’s minus forty outside.
Commentary after the game:
Head coach of VC "Gorky" Andrey Dranishnikov: clear, that it’s always difficult to play against Surgut here: and support, and atmosphere, and a specific hall - all together. It took an incredible amount of time to get here, 36 or 38 the journey took hours. What was not there - and board replacement, and weather conditions. But the guys are great, came out in good spirits. Mental trainer, which we have, prepared the guys from this side. The whole team fought for Gorky today – that’s what I would call it. A win for the whole team for the club. A yellow card is normal for me, ordinary case, not so bad. Good, that's not red. I'm an emotional trainer and always express my emotions., I find, that this is part of life and holding back is wrong. I'm also trying to get some guys, because I understand, that the game was difficult from all sides. When I'm charged, my players are charged too. Today they proved it on the field.
It was very important to take the first set. Why the second one turned out to be a failure - it was the adaptation that had an effect. We got a little overwhelmed, because the time zone, and temperature is hard. G, of course, hard to play, we haven't done any training here, straight to the game. That's why there are such outbursts. Well, the fifth game, these are emotions, it's a lottery. But today it's not just the lottery, but the team also proved, that will fight to the end despite the score. We were losing, caught up and fought.
Central blocking VC "Gorky" Mikhail Shcherbakov: There were problems with our logistics in Surgut, weather conditions in Moscow... Getting ready for the game, we really wanted to win, respectively, did everything for this, what could. The game showed, that we are more or less equal rivals today, but, I think, we had more desire to win. It's too early to judge, where is the fight for the playoffs?, where what place, There's still half a championship to go, everything can change. It’s definitely better not to focus on this.
Senior trainer of VC Gazprom-Yugra Alexey Rudakov: It's easier to say, what we got. We only got the feed, we served well. And in other elements... Even with a good reception, we could not beat the blockers on the other side. We received well, but didn't use these moments. Such a feeling, that we are afraid of something. Let's do something hard, hard work instead, to play and enjoy the game. There is no such emotional mood, which would allow you to win.
Our team is mostly young, there are people, that, by and large, have not shown themselves anywhere yet. We give them a chance here, but I think, that they don't take advantage of their chances. They must play on emotions, that will give us strength, and they will be given skill - then something will work out. What can we talk about, if we burn out before every home game? We only won one game at home - this is no good. Walls help at home, fans help, we are training here, all the comfort, which is only possible, we have collected here. It turns out, that we play better on the road than at home, it shouldn't be like this.
2: 3 
Bitter (Nizhny Novgorod)Details
| Date | Time | Championship |
|---|---|---|
| 26.12.2025 | 19:00 | CR 2025-2026 |
Results
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | GENERAL. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gazprom-Yugra (KhMAO-Yugra) | 20 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 12 | 2 |
| Bitter (Nizhny Novgorod) | 25 | 19 | 25 | 23 | 15 | 3 |
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 |
Bitter (Nizhny Novgorod)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | S | K | E | FACING | B | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
