The Russian Super League takes wings. Dinamo Moscow finally shook off after two defeats in a row beating Lokomotiv Kharkov in tie-break. Having won over Ural Ufa in the match of the round, Zenit Kazan has maintained a run of luck and the Champions of Europe are still unbeaten in Russia.
A game in Ufa was presented as the match of the week in SuperLeague. A previous leader, Ural Ufa, met a main candidate for the championship – Zenit Kazan. All predictions turned out to be accurate and the match was really exciting. In spite of playing without two vital wing-spikers (Vissotto and Spiridonov), Ural took a struggle against the more titled opponent, however, it was not enough. After the last whistle of a referee, Zenit could have enjoyed the next victory, this time, in tie-break. During the match, Zenit was being caused problems by Miguel Falasca and his various and equal distribution of shares in attack for each of his teammates. Wladimir Alekno’s players answered by Maxim Mikhaylov’s powerful spikes and the efficient play by Alexander Abrosimov (73% in attack, 3 blocks,1 ace). Among hosts, Andrey Ashchev was the best. The middle-blocker finished 9 attack noting the 60 % effectiveness, moreover, he added 5 blocks.
Fakiel Novy Urengoy had no problems in the fourth games line. Ferdinando De Giorgi’s charges defeated in his own hall visitors from Nizhny Novgorod, in any set of the match not allowing them to score at least twenty points. The possibilities of Konstantin Bakun in attack has been seen once again. He finished 15 of 23 sets, what gives 65% effectiveness , adding to the five service aces. A Polish setter, Lukasz Zygadlo can be also awarded. All sets of his makes that Fakel gained 63% , so Zygadlo won a competition with Mikko Esko, a setter of Nizhny. However, the experienced Finn can be justified by very poor reception of Novgorod (38% positive, 22% perfect).
All results of the 4th round
Group of Blue
Grozny – Belogorie Belgorod 2-3 (25-23, 25-23, 13-25, 13-25, 10-15)
Top Scorers: Bestuzhev 20, Shipotko 11, Rykov 9, Tokhtash 7; Grozer 23, Ilinykh 14, Muserskiy 10, Khtey 6, Khanipov 3, Kosarev 3
Ural Ufa – Zenit Kazan 2-3 (25-22, 19-25, 22-25, 25-17, 18-20)
Top Scorers: Ashchev 15, Abramov 14, Maksimov 13, Panteleymonenko 12, Alekseev 7; Mikhaylov 24, Abrosimov 15, Anderson 14, Sivozhelez 14, Apalikov 7
Kuzbass Kemerovo – Yaroslavich Yaroslavl 3-2 (25:22, 25:22, 20:25, 20:25,15:11)
Top Scorers: Moroz 28, Tuia 18, Poroshin 12, Andrae 9; Kolesnik 22, Tavasiev 16, Yudin 16, Piatak 9
Gazprom Yugra Surgut – Lokomotiv Novosibirsk 0-3 (20:25, 23:25, 21: 25)
Top Scorers: Radicev 15, Todorov 9, Mysin 8, Aleksiev 6; Nilsson 19, Divis 12, Biriukov 8, Butko 4
Group of Red
Prikam Perm – Iskra Odintsovo 0-3 (22-25, 22-25, 20-25)
Top Scorers: Karpenko 10, Kovalev 8, Andreev 6, Zakharov 5; Burtsev 14, Kalinin 11, Kozlov 10, Schmitt 9, Koulechov 5
Fakel Novy Urengoy – Gubernia Nizhny Novgorod 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-16)
Top Scorers: Bakun 20, Melnik 12, Titich 9, Kritskiy 7, Astashenkov 4; N.Pavlov 12, Ostapenko 6, Leonenko 4, Sychev 2, M.Esko 2
Dinamo Mosca – Lokomotiv Kharkov 3-2 (25-27, 25-22, 27-29, 25-16, 15-10)
Top Scorers: Kruglov 22, Veres 19, Shcherbinin 15, Markin 11, Krivets 11; Tyutlin 32, Rudnitskiy 12, Iereshchenko 11, Teryomenko 10, V.Ivanov 6
Dinamo Krasnodar – Shakhtar Soligorsk 3-0 (25-21, 25-20, 25-22)
Top Scorers: Conte 18, Chervyakov 11, Zemchenok 10, Mochalov 9, Khoroshev 6; A.Simeonov 12, Levchenko 10, Udrys 7, Ashlei Nemer 6, Audochanka 6
Standings
Group of Blue
1. Zenit Kazan 9
2. Ural Ufa 9
3. Lokomotiv Novosibirsk 9
4. Kuzbass Kemerovo 8
5. Gazprom Yugra Surgut 6
6. Belogorie Belgorod 6
7. Yaroslavich Yaroslavl 6
8. Grozny 4
Group of Red
1. Iskra Odintsovo 8
2. Fakel Novy Urengoy 8
3. Dinamo Krasnodar 7
4. Dinamo Moscow 6
5. Lokomotiv Kharkov 4
6. Gubernia Nizhny Novgorod 3
7. Shakhtar Soligorsk 3
8. Prikam Perm 0