Russia: also Zenit Kazan one step closer to final six

The 3rd-seed Zenit-Kazan confidently beat no.10 Enisey in the first match of the series of the 2020/21 Russian Superliga Parimatch.
Even though their head coach Vladimir Alekno made adjustments to the lineup and gave Ngapeth and Volkov the opportunity to rest for the very important rematch of the CEV Champions League semifinals against Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle, Zenit-Kazan beat Enisey and took the lead in the series of the Preliminary Round of the playoffs.
The team from the Tatarstan region had an easier job than expected mostly because their rivals were deprived of the help of the top scorer Kirill Klets (injury): 3-0 (25:14, 25:13, 25:19). Maksim Mikhaylov led Zenit-Kazan with 17 points (74% attack, 14/19 and 3 aces) while Fedor Voronkov made a 71% attack (12/17).
Recall that Zenit Saint Petersburg, Fakel, and Lokomotiv achieved wins in their respective playoff openers earlier.

| 2020/21 Russian Superliga Parimatch, Preliminary Round of playoffs | Game 1
| March 20
• Zenit Saint Petersburg (4) – Yugra Samotlor Nizhnevartovsk (9) 3-0 (25:14, 25:17, 25:17)
• Fakel Novy Urengoy (5) – ASK Nizhniy Novgorod (8) 3-1 (26:28, 25:20, 25:18, 25:21)
• Lokomotiv Novosibirsk (6) – Ural Ufa (7) 3-0 (25:20, 25:21, 25:19)

| March 21
• Zenit Kazan (3) – Yenisey Krasnoyarsk (10) 3-0 (25:14, 25:13, 25:19)
Top Scorers: Mikhaylov 17, Voronkov 16, Bednorz 7, Kononov 7; Skrimov 9, Iereshchenko 8.