Zenit Kazan did not cope with Gazprom Yurga Surgut and made unexpected surprise for its stewards in the mach of teams sponsored by the gas monopolist – Gazprom. Fakel Novy Urengoy increased its points advantage over Dinamo Krasnodar winning after an extremely one-sided game.
Gazprom Surgut left on chances Zenit Kazan in the most ‘energetic’ game of the 8th round, not allowing the Russian champions to score at least 20 points in each of three sets. Gazprom totally dominated all offensive elements of volleyball and even crushed Zenit by its killing blocks (12-2). The main contribution to the achievement of this outcome had Todor Todorov, who bricked up the net four times. He added also 7 points spiking with 86% of efficiency. Gazprom was leading also in attack reaching a sky high effectiveness (59 %) while Zenit finished only 49% of played attacks. Especially the Aleksey Rodichev’s achievement could impress. He finished 14 of 18 actions. Zenit was trying to reciprocate by Maxim Mikhaylov who showed high and equal level of play as an Olympic Champion befits. Despite the defeat, he was the best scorer of the battle with 16 points on his match account ( 14 points in attacks, 56% of efficiency, 2 aces). Zenit failed first time this season and lost the leadership at once. Gazprom Surgut caught up Zenit in the points table.
All results of the 8th leg
Group of Blue
Gazprom Yugra Surgut – Zenit Kazan 3:0 (25:19, 25:19, 25:18)
Top Scorers: Rodichev 15, Mysin 15, Todorov 11, Aleksiev 10; Mikhaylov 16, Anderson 12, Abrosimov 6, Demakov 4, Cheremisin 4, Berezhko 4
Lokomotiv Novosibirsk – Kuzbass Kemerovo 3:1 (25:18, 27:29, 25:18, 25:18)
Top Scorers: Nilsson 22, Divis 20, Biryukov 17, Volvich 8; Moroz 21, Andrae 16, Tuia 11, Poroshin 6, Shcherbakov 6
Belogorie Belgorod – Yaroslavich Yaroslavl 3:0 (25:19, 25:14, 25:23)
Top Scorers: Grozer 17, Fomenko 15, Zhigalov 11, Musersky 9; Kulikovsky 6, A.Ivanov 6, Logunov 5, Tavasiev 4
Grozny – Ural Ufa 0:3 (20:25, 18:25, 20:25)
Top Scorers: Rykov 16, Beztuzhev 8, Shipotko 8, Andrianov 6; Spiridonov 17, Vissotto 14, Samoylenko 8, Ashchev 8
Group of Red
Fakel Novy Urengoy – Dinamo Krasnodar 3:0 (25:21, 25:18, 25:21)
Top Scorers: Bakun 17, Kritskiy 13, Melnik 9, Titich 7; Nosenko 13, Mochalov 10, Conte 9, Khilchenko 5
Lokomotiv Kharkhiv – Shakhtar Soligorsk 3:2 (21:25, 26:24, 24:26, 25:19, 20:18)
Top Scorers: Not published
Dinamo Moscow – Prikam Perm 3:0 (25:18, 26:24, 25:22)
Top Scorers: Kruglov 17, Krivets 12, Markin 9, Shchadilov 7; Zakharov 14, A.Kovalev 13, Likhosherstov 8, Kozitsin 6
Gubernia Nizhny Novgorod – Iskra Odintsovo 3:2 (25:27, 25:20, 23:25, 30:28, 15:9)
Top Scorers: Pavlov 21, Nikic 17, Ostapenko 13, Savin 11; Schmitt 29, Kalinin 20, Kozlov 8, Berezin 7
Standings
Group of Blue:
- Lokomotiv Novosibirsk 21
- Zenit Kazan 18
- Gazprom Yugra Surgut 18
- Ural Ufa 17
- Belogorie Belgorod 15
- Kuzbass Kemerovo 11
- Yaroslavich Yaroslavl 7
- Grozny 4
Group of Red:
- Fakel Novy Urengoy 16
- Iskra Odintsovo 13
- Dinamo Krasnodar 12
- Dinamo Moscow 11
- Lokomotiv Kharkhiv 11
- Gubernia Nizhny Novgorod 11
- Shakhtar Soligorsk 4
- Prikam Perm 3