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"Gazprom-Ugra" (Surgut): Kostadinov village - Nikiforov, Shevlyakov - Andreev, A. Kostadinov – Kuklinsky, Moiseev/Nagaets

«Lokomotiv» (Novosibirsk): S. Nikolov – Kazachenkov, Kurkaev - Lyzik, Kurbanov – Voronkov, Melkozerov/Krivitchenko

Two games within one match: the first two sets were fought by equal opponents, in the third and fourth the visitors' advantage was much more noticeable. The watershed was the end of the second game, protracted to the point of an “indecent” bill: missing several story opportunities 2:0, the owners fell into a psychological hole and were unable to climb out of it.

It all started with an absolutely equal game in the first set, where the opponents did not let each other go further than one point until the mark 22:22. A little earlier, Plamen Konstantinov made a double substitution, which, to put it mildly, didn't work. Rajab Shakhbanmirzaev first hit out of bounds from a convenient position in his once home hall (23:22), and then got hit by a block (24:22). On a set point, Andreev launched a glider at Voronkov, who was making his debut for Lokomotiv, and he hung the passing ball to Rodichev, 25:22. Separately worth mentioning, that the opponents tried to take maximum risks on serve, which led to impressive parity: seven errors on each side.

In the second set the swings flew with greater amplitude. Nikolov scored the first point with an ace., but then there was a series of knockout serves from Slavi - 4:1. Moiseev brought another freeball... to the opponent’s side, worked in defense, but Kazachenkov achieved his goal on the second try. Grabbing Kuklinsky with a block, the guests restored the balance, 6:6.

Nikolov passes into the “milk”, Nikiforov punishes, 14:11. Ace from Kazachenkov - 15:14. Block Ilie, 18:16. Ais Nikolova, 18:18. The teams reached the end on equal terms again, Andreev finished hanging and closed Kazanchekova’s discount, 22:21. He corrected himself - and the heat started. Nikiforov scored the first set point (25:24), and then there’s a “return” on Nikolov’s breaking serve, 25:26. Rodichev’s “Five Minute” – Kazachenkov equalized the score with a block, and with a shortened ace he regained the advantage, 29:28. Voronkov takes set points with a shot to the line, 29:30. His hit on the block in the overture of a protracted rally changes the balance in favor of the hosts at the mark 35:34. Nikolov holds the pick through the center, Nikiforov and a little Kuklinsky decide for the hosts. at level 37:36 Nikiforov takes risks on serve - net. Then two of his attacks raise in defense, and Nikolov remembers, what can attack - scored and threw, 37:39.

In the third set the hosts tried to continue to fight, started with Slavi's ace, Nikiforov added his own serve through the air, 7:6. But then the guests had a crazy rally with a crazy finish from Kurbanov from the back line under the skin of the block, and Slavi buried the passing ball in the hands of the same Kurbanov, 7:8. Kirillov came out to pass, and the game advantage began to float to the shore of Lokomotiv. Ais Nikolova, 10:11, Nikiforov's shot into touch, 10:12. Rodichev twists “four by four” through the rope into touch, 11:14. Kurbanov draws an ace, 11:15. On that, to get out of this hole, the owners did not have enough strength and emotions, although ace Slavi (19:23) sweetened pill. Lyzik put the point, although Gazprom-Yugra had an extra game on their serve, 20:25. curious, what did Lokomotiv do in this set? 10 (!) errors on serve against 4 Torch timeout - and Dineikin confidently withdraws in the fourth zone, and the score is by aces 3:2 in favor of Surgutyans. But what happened to Lokomotiv? – caused big problems for Gazprom-Yugra in reception with subsequent problems on the grid.

In the fourth game, Loko still had Vishnyakov, who had come out earlier instead of Kurkaev, on the court., and the Surgut team paired Alexandra Kostadinov with Andrey Bobrov. Kirillov made a mistake twice in the pass, by pointing the ball at the block first, and then completely went to the opponent’s side and left the clearing at the mark 5:9. The replacement bore fruit: Nikiforov scored a hard goal, Kurbanov managed to send the passing ball into touch in a protracted rally, and then Kostadinov took advantage of that, that Kazachenkov’s food was not going well, 8:9.

Rajab came out instead of Ilya and soon scored an ace., 12:14. Moni beautifully threw it behind his head with one hand into the empty fourth zone, 13:15, and Bobrov's failure in attack led to 13:17. Bobrov partially redeemed himself with an ace, 15:17. The hosts continued to cling to the game, Slavi established interaction with Shevlyakov, then the block was closed by Rajaba. 21:22. Plamen Konstantinov's time-out led to an error by Kuklinsky, who came out with a special mission on serve., and Rajab again knocked the hosts out of the game, 21:24. In the next play, the Surgut team’s block again covered Loko’s diagonal attack., but a video review confirmed that the blockers touched the net, 21:25.

Comments after the game:

Head coach of VC Lokomotiv Plamen Konstantinov: We got off to a terrible start and more or less finished.. This is one of our worst games and technically, and in terms of tactical execution. In today's game the only satisfactory thing is three points. maybe, we have become so great, what do we think, that we can win with less effort from teams from the middle of the table... But this is not so! And today we saw it on the site. We need to go into every game focused., with maximum respect to the enemy. And then, probably, there will be more chances with top teams. And in such games, like today, in our version - there is no benefit in them. It's due to our disgusting attitude. Today I will single out only Simeon (Nikolova - editor.), he tried to play. All others with huge differences, very weak processing, light balls, freeballs, second touch – they looked technically weak. Tactical mistakes, very weak block, a huge amount of defects on the block, especially in the first and second games.

Central blocker VC Lokomotiv Dmitry Lyzik: We play hard. And on the team, and I personally have a decline in terms of volleyball, and emotional. Do not know, this is due to the large number of games, due to our schedule. We need to do something about this, reboot, play cleaner, take on some responsibility. But for now it feels, that it is very difficult for us. In the second game they were patient, endured, believed, what can we win, and... endured. The second game was decisive. After such a long set, the winner is usually the one, who won this set.

Senior trainer of VC Gazprom-Yugra Alexey Rudakov: By emotions, Well done guys in spirit, very good mood for the game. But, of course, we have a lot of errors in serving, We shouldn’t allow so many marriages in our hall. Nine each, eight times is a lot. Sagged a little after the second game, which was very close, you could grab onto it, but it didn't work out a bit. The guys sank, but well done, that they continued to fight, at the end of the fourth game we were a little short on the reception.

Libero of VC Gazprom-Yugra Nikita Nagaets: The game turned out to be interesting, and for us, and for the fans. We were serious about Lokomotiv, because many of our guys have been there. They wanted to fight and win. Unfortunately, the second game was a turning point. After her, I do not know, Honestly, are we physically hooked?, either Lokomotiv improved their serve, moved us away from the grid. Natural result: when they throw such a pitch, It’s difficult to work with a minus on such a block. At the end of the second game we didn’t score our final goals, and Lokomotiv coped with it. Afterwards it was difficult to return, but, Nevertheless, We didn’t give up after that, fought. In fact, and Simeon Nikolov, and Kazachenkov, and Dima Lyzik piled in there, Yes, everyone piles in there... With eyes closed, I think, toss the ball and bounce, where will it fly. And we also accept with our eyes closed, it hits you - and call an ambulance.

Gazprom-Yugra (KhMAO-Yugra) 1: 3 locomotive (Novosibirsk)

match stats

Details

Date	Time	Championship
17.01.2026	19:00	CR 2025-2026

Results

Team	1	2	3	4	GENERAL.
Gazprom-Yugra (KhMAO-Yugra)	25	37	20	21	1
locomotive (Novosibirsk)	22	39	25	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

locomotive (Novosibirsk)

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