Zenit Kazan beats Belogorie and has become seven-time champion of Russia

On April 28, Zenit Kazan beat Belogorye in the fourth match of the playoffs in a tiebreaker and has become the seven-time champion of Russia.

It should be recalled that Vladimir Alekno’s team lost to Belgorod team in the first match, won the second match, despite the lag of 0:2 during the match. After the whitewashed victory on April 27, VC Zenit led 2:1 in the final series. As it was known, in order to confirm the title of the Russian champion, Kazan team had to win one more game.

The starting lineup of Kazan team included Eugenii Sivozhelez, Wilfredo Leon, Andrei Aschev Igor Kobzar, Maxim Mikhailov and Alexei Verbov. From the beginning of the match, it was clear that Belogorie was set to fight. Alekno’s team took the lead with two-point advantage in the middle of the set due to Andrei Aschev and Alexander Gutsalyuk. However, Belogorye leveled the score at 24:24 by the party’s end. Nevertheless, Maxim Mikhailov played well and the first set was finished with a score of 28:26.

In the second set, Zenit took the lead 16:10 by the second technical timeout. Belogorie’s players slightly reduced a gap – Zenit’s attack  was prevented by Taras Hteya’s and Alexander Bogomolov’s block, 18:15 was on the scoreboard. But the guests didn’t come closer than for four points to Kazan team. Eugenii Sivozhelez drived the ball into the ground and the teams went on a break with a score of 25:20.

After the break, Belogorie led 5:1, and Zenit coach let Saeed Marouf instead of Igor Kobzar, who almost immediately brought a point for the team. After a long battle, Maksim Mikhailov leveled the score 10:10. The guests led 14:11 again after the attack of George Grozera. Tension was growing, Zenith took a time out at a score 18:20, then, immediately another one after a loss. But Belogorie did not stop - they confidently got the victory in the third set.

Zenit had to recoup 3:6 in the next set. Despite the fact that Mikhailov closed the gap to a minimum, Belogorie was irresistible, Sergey Tetyukhin hit Leon’s ball with his foot. When the score was 10:15, Aschev was replaced by Alexander Volkov, and while the score was 11:17 Alekno let Alexey Spiridonov on the ground. However, the party is over шт favor of Belogorye.

The outcome of the meeting became known after a tiebreaker. 15:8 - and Zenit is a seven-time champion of Russia.

Zenit Kazan - Belogorie Belgorod- 3:2 (28:26, 25:20, 20:25, 18:25, 15:8).