Zenit Kazan had a problem with Tyumen which took one point from Kazan. Longest tiebreak of the season won Fakel in Ural.
Yaroslavich (Yaroslavl) – Dynamo (Moscow) 1:3 (22:25, 25:19, 18:25, 25:27)
An important game for neighboring in ranks Yaroslavl and Moscow teams. Both teams were looking to extend their winning streak to two games. The winner would stay close to the leading group and the lost team will move closer to the bottom of the Superleague.
Yaroslavich started the game with great offensive plays from Mikhailov and Titic and soon there were in the lead 10:4. But Dynamo improved blocking and after Berezhko’s powerful spikes Dynamo got back into the set and eventually claimed it. Gatin was incredible in the second set, while Dynamo’s Yakovlev and Berezhko lost concentration. As result the host team easily bagged the set. Yakovlev had miserable night scoring only 4 points (27%). Cherednike had to substitute him with Poltavsky and that worked 100% for Moscow team. The substitute yearning 18 points (75%). Dante (14, 60%) and Volkov (15, 80%) were also instrumental in taking over the game in the third and fourth set. Berezhko earned 15 points (48%) and Samoylenko 11 (42%). Ostapenko appeared first time in this season! He did not do much in blocking and offense, just served several times. But his appearance means that Dynamo would be in full strenght very soon.
Mikhailov this time was limited to 20 points (43%). The only other host got into double digit was Gatin – 13 (26%). With their main scorer getting less than 30 points, the host team did not have chances to win the game.
Ural (Ufa) – Fakel ( Novy Urengoi) 2-3 (23:25, 25:23, 25:15, 23:25, 20:22)
In seven games these two teams played Ural won only once. Matkovsky from the host team did not play due to injury. Fakel started the game with confidence and build the four points lead. The host team tied game at 17:17. Both teams exchanged points till 23:23 when two blocks by Beketov and Kosarev made the difference and won the set for Fakel. The second set was even till the end till the same 23:23, but this time Bovdui single-handed decided the outcome in favor of the Ufa’s team. The hosts build up on the momentum and jumped into early 5:0 lead in the next set. Fakel fell apart and the biggest deficit was 11 points at 22:11. The serve and reception error gave Ural 2:1 lead. Two teams played another close set with the score tied 22:22 in the fourth set. Veresh attack went wide and Kritsky’s first-tempo forced the fifth set. The tie break was so far the longest in the season. At the end Volvich’s spike outside of the court gave Fakel the match point and Bovdui made an reception error on Rooney’s serve to give two points to the guest team.
Starovich was the best for Ufa with 27 points (55%), Veresh had 15 (52%), and Bovdui 13 (33%). Beketov played extraodinarly for Fakel with 23 (58%), Possamakhin was even better 16 (68%). Kosarev had 18 points and Kritsky 10.
Lokomotiv (Novosibirsk) – Dynamo-Yantar (Kaliningrad) 3:1 (25:16, 25:18, 23:25, 26:24)
Injury depleted fought bravely in Novosibirsk and were close to getting a point in an away game. Chaus scored 17 points (63%), Tkachenko 15, Shpilev 14 and Zhilin 10 points. Pavlov was back into actions for the host team and scored 15 points (46%). Priddy scored Lokomotiv’s most 19 points, Leonenko 16 points and veteran Kazakov 11 points. Lee added 10 points. Lokomotiv eventually got the planned three points and kept the fifth place.
Lokomotiv-Belogorie (Belgorod) – Gazprom-Yugra (Surgut) 3:0 (25:20, 25:22, 25:19)
Lokomotiv unexpectedly lost both last games and now are four points behind Zenit, the leader of 2010 Superleague. Yet Yugra which was sharing the last place with Tyumen did not have many chances in this game. Belgorod team never lost at home in this season. Coach Shipulin went back to initial lineup starting Khtei as outside hitter and Ilinykh as opposite. The swap worked perfectly: Ilinykh (15, 45%) delivered the same level performance, but Khtei was much better with 14 points and 61% effectiveness. Musersky added 13 and Kadjevich 8 points and Belgorod’s lokomotiv passed Surgut without visible problems. Looks like after some slowing down, Belogorie is up to speed again.
Zenit (Kazan) – Tyumen (Tyumen) 3-2 (25:17, 25:21, 21:25, 23:25, 15:10)
Zenit are on the roll with 8 wins and have not yet lost a game. Tyumen is rising from the ashes and won last two contests. Who would prevail in the clash of the first and the last team of the Superleague. Kazan played without their charismatic leader Ball but easily won the first two sets. The Superleague best blocker Apalikov had the off day too. Substitute setter Garkushenko started the second straight game. The guests after giving up two sets significantly improved offensive performance and evened up the score at 2 sets a piece. In the tie break Tetyukin was the best getting points spiking and blocking and digging impossible balls. Zenit got the set and the match, but Tyumen gained a point for their efforts. Panteleimonenko had 19 points (43%), Tetyukhin 13 points, and Abrosimov 11 points. Kiktev scored 25 points (44%), Dubrovin 15 and Boyarchuk 10 points. Tyumen totally deserved a point and now they are tied with Yugra, but because of the sets ratio are on the 11th place.
Iskra (Odintsovo) – Lokomotiv-Izumrud (Ekaterinburg) 3-0 (25:18, 25:20, 26:24)
Odintsovo frustrated by the loss to Moscow in the previous round came out with good concentration and did not give Lokomotiv many chances. Their better offense and blocking decided the outcome of the match. Their best scorer Schops is getting back into shape getting 11 points, Kruglov had 16 and Spiridonov 13. Aleksiev was incredible for the guests with 21 points (54%).
With the clean win Iskra holds the second place and narrow the gap from Kazan to two points. Izumrud is on the 10th place only on point ahead of Tyumen.
Numbers…. Well, a lot of numbers (stats and etc.)
Best Scores:
Starovic – 27; Beketov – 23; Aleksiev, Mikhailov – all 21; Priddy – 19; Poltavsky, Kosarev – 18.
Best Spikers (Points/Errors/Succ %):
Volkov – 12/1/75; Poltavsky – 15/0/75; Rossamakhin – 13/1/68; Khtei – 11/2/61.
Best Blockers:
Lee – 6; Butko – 5; Samsonychev, Starovich, Kamutskikh, Proskurnya, Egorchev, Samoilenko, Bovdui – all 4.
Best Receivers (Total/Errors/Pos%):
Ilinykh – 25/0/68; Salparov – 36/6/63; Evdoshenko – 35/1/63
Aces:
Priddy, Kroglov – 5; Chaus – 4.