Belogorie Belgorod shot down Lokomotiv Novosibirsk and completed n the semifinals set-up. This phase will be historical because only Zenit Kazan repeated its last year’s success, and was promoted to the top four while Dinamo Moscow (vice-champion), Iskra Odincovo (Bronze medalist), and Lokomotiv Novosibirsk (4th place) will not be among bests.
Lokomotiv Novosibirsk – Belogorie Belgorod 0-3 (18-25, 21-25, 22-25)
Lokomotiv: Butko 2, Zhilin 8, Volvich 3, Nilsson 13, Biryukov 10, Gutsalyuk 5, Golubev (L) and Zubkov 0, Voronkov 0, Leonenko 3, Sidenko (L)
Belogorie: Makarov 2, Khtey 7, Muserskiy 16, Grozer 17, Tetyukhin 9, Duff 7, Ermakov (L) and Kosarev 0, Kobzar 0, Zhigalov 0
Stats: Points: 61:75, Serve: 2:10, Attack: 32:39, Block: 10:9, Reception: 31%:63%, Errors: 17:17
Play-off: 2 – 3
Belgorod went off to a good start in the first set with successful attacks of Gorgy Grozer and Dimitry Muserskiy (1-4). Aleksander Butko tried to take control of the game but in vain because the guests disposed a full range of plays showing much more comprehensive sets and increased its handicap with effective spike of Tars Khtey (4-8). A lack of Lukas Divis (injury) was becoming more and more visible ball by ball. Neither Denys Biryukov nor Ilya Zhilin was not able fill in the Slovak’s work especially in the offensive area. Therefore, Belogorie was leading over the net in block and attack. Sergey Tetyukhin added several points while Nilsson responded being still lonely but helped to reduce the loss (14-16). It occurred to be a last hurrah of Lokomotiv in the first set. The club European champion has collected just four points yet ,as the result, a block on Markus Nilsson finished the first set of (18-25).
Having gained a three points advantage thanks to Biryukov’s spike and block, the hosts awaked after the first set (5-2) but not for long. Belogorie scored three next points and afterwards, they went down to the technical time-out with a leadership (6-8). Then, Nilsson and Gatsalyuk were blocked and Zhilin made a mistake (7-12), however, a series of ineffective actions of Khtey led to re-clinch (12-12). Both teams found it difficult to break away in the score (16-16) until Belgorod was the first to get a margin of two points (17-19). Muserskiy took the low into his own hands and along with Tetyukhin ended the second side (21-25).
The third set was a sheer show of Lokomotiv Novosibirsk’s awkwardness which is unworthy for the winner of the Champions League. Marcus Nilsson and rest started up with very high advantage. At first 5-1, then 8-3 and finally they reached even seven points predominance (10-3), but as it turned out, the result was not enough. Belogorie scored five points in a row and immediately got closer to its opponents (10-8) and after nine even consecutive actions regained the lead (13-14). Then, Gorgy Grozer moved the sixth gear like in a good German car that caused to escape to a larger gap in points (14-18, 16-21). The last part belonged to “Dima” Muserskiy despite few mistakes commitment. The Russian “Giant” made one block and finished of the match by an attack.
Semifinals schedule
Zenit Kazan – Belogorie Belgorod
Gubernia Nizhny Novgorod – Ural Ufa
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The semifinal matches will be played in April ( 25, 26, 29, 30) and in May (3).