Russia: Fakel stun Novosibirsk. Three points also for Kazan and Krasnoyarsk in advances of Round 22

First three matches of Superliga Round 22 were played today.
bears the signature of young Fakel
Novy Urengoy who, at their home court in Siberia, claimed a resounding straight sets victory (26:24, 29:27, 25:22) over super favorite Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, led again by Babkevich (21 points, 21/32 with 3 blocked and only one error) and Dineikin from the service line, with 4 aces and only one error in 17 serves). The guys around head coach
Konstantinov boast a great 60% in attack, but suffered a great collection of errors: 23 in serving (with 7 aces), against the only 15 of the hosts, as well as 6 in attack, and only 2 for Fakel.
After a home defeat from Zenit-Kazan only 6 days ago, and the one today, Lokomotiv put themselves in a virtually impossible position to claim the top spot in the regular season and the privilege to organize the Final Six. The Novosibirsk side, currently vice-leader, is as many as 15 points behind Zenit-Kazan, having to complete 6 more rounds during which it will try to retain No.2 (one of the 2 direct slots to F6).
On the other games, Skrimov’s return (17 points, 60% and 40% efficiency in attack, 5 aces and 0 errors from the service line through 16 serves) reraised Yenisey Krasnoyarsk who defeat Gazprom Surgut at home with the same result (25:22, 25:12, 25:13).
Close the picture another victory of leaders Zenit Kazan ever closer to first place. The guys around coach Verbov (who today fielded Surmachevskiy, Kononov and Shcherbinin in place of Bednorz, Volvich and A.Volkov) needed four sets to defeat at home Kuzbass Kemerovo (25:19, 25:15, 20:25, 25:12). And once again a great performance of Dimitri Volkov, who ended the game with 21 points, 56% and 37% efficiency in attack, 2 blocks and 4 aces.

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🏐| 2021/22 Superliga Parimatch – Regular Season – Round 22

| March 18, 2022

• Yenisey Krasnoyarsk – Gazprom Surgut 3-0 (25:22, 25:12, 25:13)
Top Scorers: Klets 18, Skrimov 17, Valeev 12, Maksimov 7; Alekseev 11, Makarenko 6, Kostilenko 6.

• Fakel Novy Urengoy – Lokomotiv
Novosibirsk 3-0 (26:24, 29:27, 25:22)
Top Scorers: Babkevich 21, Dineikin 9, Melnikov 6, Yutsevich 5, Safonov 5; Luburic 17, Savin 15, Kurkaev 9, Lyzik 6, Perrin 6.

• Zenit Kazan – Kuzbass Kemerovo
3-1 (25:19, 25:15, 20:25, 25:12)
Top Scorers: Volkov 21, Surmachevski 19, Mikhaylov 7, Shcherbinin 7; Papazov 17, Pakshin 12, Karpukhov 7.

| March 19
• Yugra Samotlor Nizhnevartovsk – Neftyanik Orenburg 3-0 (25:12, 25:16, 25:12)
• Ural Ufa – Zenit St. Petersburg 2-3 (25:23, 25:18, 22:25, 19:25, 11:15)

| March 20
• Dinamo LO – Belogorie Belgorod 1-3 (25:16, 22:25, 24:26, 15:25)
• ASK Nizhniy Novgorod – Dinamo Moscow 1-3 (22:25, 15:25, 25:21, 19:25)

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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day)
Zenit Kazan 64
Lokomotiv Novosibirsk 49
Dinamo Moscow 45
Zenit St Petersburg 39
Dinamo LO 38
Belogorie Belgorod 34
Kuzbass Kemerovo 27
ASK Nizhniy Novgorod 26
Yugra Samotlor Nizhnevartovsk 25
Fakel Novy Urengoy 21
Yenisey KrasnoyarsK 20
Gazprom Surgut 17
Ural Ufa 16
Neftyanik Orenburg 5

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