Russia: Zenit Kazan have been dethroned, final is Dinamo Moscow – St. Petersburg. Nizhnevartovsk beats Kuzbass in advance of Round 15

Volleyball in Russia continued also on Christmas day.
Zenit Kazan won’t get a new opportunity to play in the final, after being defeated by Zenit St. Petersburg in the semifinals of the Russian Cup 3-2 (20:25, 25:22, 25:22, 21:25, 17:15).
And this, after winning six straight national cups of Russia.
It was a game with many turnarounds and the team from St. Petersburg managed to win the game in the tiebreak with two points of difference 17:15. Dinamo Moscow are the second finalists, beating the current champions of Russia Lokomotiv in five sets as well 3-2 (19:25, 14:25, 25:23, 25:19, 15:8).
Even though the team from Moscow was down by two sets, they managed to make an amazing comeback and to win the match.

📌| Russian Cup 2020/2021

Lokomotiv Novosibirsk – Dinamo Moscow 2-3 (25:19, 25:14, 23:25, 19:25, 8:15)
Lokomotiv Novosibirsk: Abaev 5, Ivovic 12, Kurkaev 11, Luburic 15, Savin 15, Lyzik 6, Martyniuk (L); Golubev (L), Rodichev 0, Kruglov O, Brazhniuk 0, Voropaev 0. Not Entered: Shcherbinin, Tkachev. Coach: Konstantinov.
Dinamo Moscow: Pankov 6, Semyshev 13, Likhosherstov 3, Sokolov 23, Podlesnykh 15, Vlasov 11, Baranov (L); Deroo 1, Sventitskis 1, Belogortchev 2. Not Entered: Shchkulyavichus, Sieemshchikov, Berezhko, Kabeshov (L). Coach: Brianski.

Zenit St. Petersburg – Zenit Kazan 3-2 (20:25, 25:22, 25:22, 21:25, 17:15)
St Petersburg: Brizard 1, Kliuka 25, Filippov 6, Poletaev 12, Ursov 11, Iakovlev 15, Melkozerov (L); Diachkov 0. Not entered: Kovalev, Kurbanov, Andreev (L), Kosmin, Podrebinkin, Pashytskyi. Coach: Sammelvuo.
Kazan: Butko 5, Ngapeth 14, Volkov 6, Mikhaylov 26, Bednorz 18, Volvich 8, Golubev (L); Krotkov (L), Surmachevskiy 0, Zemchenok 1, Smolyar 0. Not Entered: Fedor Voronkov, Alekno, Kononov. Coach: Alekno.

In advance of Round 15, after the sensational 3-0 over Zenit Kazan, Yugra Samotlor Nizhnevartovsk made another bang by beating Kuzbass Kemerovo 3-1. The opposite Papazov and the outside-hitter Masliev (who returned last April after a 4-year ban for doping) are the men of the match for the home team that can now aspire to a place in the playoffs.

📌| Results & Program Round 15

🗓| December 25
Yugra Samotlor Nizhnevartovsk — Kuzbass Kemerovo 3-1 (25:23, 25:21, 20:25, 25:23)
Top Scorers: Papazov 22, Masliev 18, Verniy 11, Makarenko 6; Markin 19, Krsmanovic 13, Sivozhelez 10, Zaytsev 9, Shcherbakov 9.

🗓| December 27
Neftyanik Orenburg — Belogorie Belgorod

🗓| December 28
Dinamo LO — Fakel Novy Urengoy
🗓| December 29
Yenisey Krasnoyarsk — Gazprom Surgut
Zenit St. Petersburg — ASK Nizhniy Novgorod
Dinamo Moscow — Ural Ufa
Zenit Kazan – Lokomotiv Novosibirsk

📄| Standings
Zenit Kazan 34
Fakel Novy Urengoy 29
Kuzbass Kemerovo 28
Dinamo Moscow 27
Zenit St. Petersburg 27
Lokomotiv Novosibirsk 21
Ural Ufa 20
Yugra Samotlor Nizhnevartovsk 20
Yenisey Krasnoyarsk 17
Belogorie Belgorod 12
Dinamo LO 7
ASK Nizhniy Novgorod 7
Neftyanik Orenburg 6
Gazprom Surgut 0