I see...just cause I saw a tweet from volleywood talking about a russian volleyball couple geting splited, and imagine their were talking about them...hehehehe not that there is anything really important about that..
Yes, but they are separated obviously, she took off all Obmochaev's photos from her instagram. I still wonder what was the rush to change her beautiful Goncharova surname into that terrible-sounded Obmochaeva.
Yes, but they are separated obviously, she took off all Obmochaev's photos from her instagram. I still wonder what was the rush to change her beautiful Goncharova surname into that terrible-sounded Obmochaeva.
Agree. But we have the opposite case. Makhno into Evdokimova 
I like her married name better.
Agree. But we have the opposite case. Makhno into Evdokimova
I like Goncharova better. Also Makhno is way better than Evdokimova
It's only a few days ahead to Yeltsin Cup. I confess that, since the announcement of Kutiukova's absence, I'm a bit sad about the Russian NT. I was expecting Kutya to make an real impact this season.
But we need to move on. The great enigma in the team is Biryukova. She arrived in the NT after a season where she began in the bench of the worst team in the SL - Voronezh, and ended as the best receiver in the final, playing quite well indeed. I'm still skeptical about her potential, but she's young, so, who knows? About a year ago, Kristin Hill was treated like trash by many people here, and then, few months later, she was the MVP in the WCH.
If Biryukova's potential is for real, she'll be a very important player in the future. She combines size (about 1'93"cm) with agility, something hard to find. More or less like Hill.
PS: Semisonic, is good to read from you again. You're our Russian Connection here. Please, stay in tune.
Display MoreIt's only a few days ahead to Yeltsin Cup. I confess that, since the announcement of Kutiukova's absence, I'm a bit sad about the Russian NT. I was expecting Kutya to make an real impact this season.
But we need to move on. The great enigma in the team is Biryukova. She arrived in the NT after a season where she began in the bench of the worst team in the SL - Voronezh, and ended as the best receiver in the final, playing quite well indeed. I'm still skeptical about her potential, but she's young, so, who knows? About a year ago, Kristin Hill was treated like trash by many people here, and then, few months later, she was the MVP in the WCH.
If Biryukova's potential is for real, she'll be a very important player in the future. She combines size (about 1'93"cm) with agility, something hard to find. More or less like Hill.
PS: Semisonic, is good to read from you again. You're our Russian Connection here. Please, stay in tune.
Not Kristin, but Kimberly Hill 
It's a big pity that Kutyukova can't be in NT once again and I wonder how will develop Biryukova in the future 
russia women's volley fan 
I'm also VERY sceptical on Biryukova's chances in NT. Not only she began the season on Voronezh's bench, she pretty much spent it there. And then yes, she a had a couple of good games in the finals, but does it make her NT player? I doubt it. And I don't think she has a good technic in reception, so consistency will definitely be lacking. On the other hand nowdays in Russia we don't have a single player with good reception, even liberos are all bad. So Biryukova being young could impove, so maybe this expirience will do her good.
Very sad about Kutya, how unlucky is she. Also my favorite young player Rita Kurilo decided to become a mother early in her career, like many Russian players, I hope she'll come back to develop her game.
russia women's volley fan
I'm also VERY sceptical on Biryukova's chances in NT. Not only she began the season on Voronezh's bench, she pretty much spent it there. And then yes, she a had a couple of good games in the finals, but does it make her NT player? I doubt it. And I don't think she has a good technic in reception, so consistency will definitely be lacking. On the other hand nowdays in Russia we don't have a single player with good reception, even liberos are all bad. So Biryukova being young could impove, so maybe this expirience will do her good.
Very sad about Kutya, how unlucky is she. Also my favorite young player Rita Kurilo decided to become a mother early in her career, like many Russian players, I hope she'll come back to develop her game.
Yes, i was very surprised not to see Kurilo in NT.. Then the news came out.. I though she was promising
Kondzio, thanks for the correction. You know, I have a terrible tendency to confuse names. I probably switched Hill's first name for Hildebrand's.
Semisonic, I agree about Biryukova. Also, I neither understand all the "hype" around Olesia Nikolaeva. Gilyazudinov and Pankov praise her all the time, but I don't see nothing special in her. Her game vaguelly remind's me of Scherban's, but still in a quite lower level - and I'm not a Scherban's enthusiast either.
About Kutyukova, I know she's unlucky, but we need to keep the faith. So, next year in Rio, Kutya will astonish the world! Wait and see.
Kondzio, thanks for the correction. You know, I have a terrible tendency to confuse names. I probably switched Hill's first name for Hildebrand's.
Semisonic, I agree about Biryukova. Also, I neither understand all the "hype" around Olesia Nikolaeva. Gilyazudinov and Pankov praise her all the time, but I don't see nothing special in her. Her game vaguelly remind's me of Scherban's, but still in a quite lower level - and I'm not a Scherban's enthusiast either.
About Kutyukova, I know she's unlucky, but we need to keep the faith. So, next year in Rio, Kutya will astonish the world! Wait and see.
Oh.. I thought Nikolaeva is like a teen and now saw she is born 1994. Well I thank case I don't see anything special in her either.. There are players of her generation which are on much higher level
Russian girls getting ready for European Games 2015. Malkova, Bavykina and Nikolaeva are beautiful 
Russian girls getting ready for European Games 2015. Malkova, Bavykina and Nikolaeva are beautiful
I agree. And Anastasia Chernaya looks like a weird combination of Lou Reed with Boris Karloff...
I agree. And Anastasia Chernaya looks like a weird combination of Lou Reed with Boris Karloff...
If we include Obmochaeva, Malykh, Dianskaya, Pasynkova they might have the most beautiful roster
If we include Obmochaeva, Malykh, Dianskaya, Pasynkova they might have the most beautiful roster
Yulia Morozova is the hottest of them all, I think.
After the recently concluded Yeltsin Cup, I do not think we can formally
make conclusions on how Russia's A team is performing (they were
expected to win gold anyway seeing the absence of strong teams). On
hindsight, I wonder if it were a better decision for Russia's A team to
play in the European games, and for the B team to play in the Yeltsin
Cup. Kosheleva not recovering in time for the first leg of GP would hurt
Russia obviously, but I think this is the time to try new OH
combinations. But nonetheless, below are my observations:
OPPS:
Obmochaeva(or do we start calling her Goncharova if the rumors are true 
) - she seems to have picked up from the great shape she had in club
season, definitely she's in better shape than the disaster she was in
last year's Grand Prix; as expected she will still be the main offensive
power (along with Kosheleva if the latter will recover in time)
Malykh
- to be honest I don't she will be used that much (maybe against
"weaker" teams?), Goncha has more power, faster and a better blocker
OHS:
Ilchenko
- I have to admit I haven't seen this girl play before being invited to
the Nt this year; she seems to be a capable attacker that i can say
much; I'm not too sure though if she can help with the team's reception,
that we'll see
Pasynkova - even against "weaker" teams, her
spikes still lack power, I think she relies more on placement than power
in her spikes; not sure what advantage she would have besides being
taller than Ilchenko
Biryukova - she didn't get as much playing time and for that reason, I can't comment further re her performance
MBs:
Fetisova
- she will be starting MB if only for her good blocking skills; she
still needs to improve her attack, she seems to prefer/ more effective
on the slide than to attack in front of the setter though
Lyubushkina
- other members here have pointed out that she had a great club season
in Italy but in the few games I have seen her play, I don't see anything
special with her??
Efimova/Orlova - used very sparingly (if at all)
Shlayakovaya/Samolyenko
- If I'm not mistaken I don't think she ever got to play the entire
tournament, I really liked Natsya pre-injury and hope we can see her
back to her old form
Setter:
Kosianenko - used extensively
throughout the tournament and in fairness to her, she sets the middles
frequently; don't have any further comments except I still prefer
Startseva 
So
in a nutshell, if we compare it to last year's WGP campaign, this team
is more or less the same coming to this year's GP. Last year, Koshe was
100% and Goncha was not, this year seems to be reversed 
Fetisova was already starting MB last year, and I expect will be the
same this year; MB2 maybe Lyubushkina/Orlova; the problem lies if
Kosheleva is not able to play in the latter stages as it would surely
hurt Russia's chances as we don't have a powerful and reliable OH, and
as we all know, this is all how Russia plays. Lastly, with Startseva's
mild injury I expect Kosianenko to be main setter for this Russian team
Marichev interview: Scherban will play as libero in the GP! http://www.championat.com/voll…itogakh-kubka-elcina.html
OK, if it was Kutiukova, i'd understand - but Scherban??
He also said that Shlyakhovaya is still injured and that some players currently in the B team will move to the first NT. I don't know if it is in Nastya's place, but, IMHO, Zaryazhko certainly deserves a place in the A team. She's playing very well and can be an important weapon.
I agree with Incognito, I also don't like Lyubuchkina. USAvolleyfan wrote about it a thousand times here, but I'll repeat him: Dianskaya is much better than Lyubuchkina, but now its just history.
Dianskaya ended up in bech on club season, and she basically just does slide, and for me Lyubuschkina is better on it, even Podskalnaya .... but i still prefer Zayazhko and Nastya, and i'm looking forward to see Orlova
If there is no Gamova this year, i would certainly move Kosheleva to OPP and back Goncharova to OH, cause even if she is no a true OH, neither has a good pass, it is still better than Kosheleva, with the addtion of Ilchenko/Pisarenko, it looks like a good team to me
Dianskaya ended up in bech on club season, and she basically just does slide, and for me Lyubuschkina is better on it, even Podskalnaya .... but i still prefer Zayazhko and Nastya, and i'm looking forward to see Orlova
If there is no Gamova this year, i would certainly move Kosheleva to OPP and back Goncharova to OH, cause even if she is no a true OH, neither has a good pass, it is still better than Kosheleva, with the addtion of Ilchenko/Pisarenko, it looks like a good team to me
Russian MBs have always been good "sliders" Tishchenko, Morozova comes to mind (Malkova in the new generation is promising, but she isn't "really young" born in 1989). The problem is the real lack of MB who can attack decently in front of the setter. For that, we have Zaryazkho who is only really effective against much shorter teams since she relies more on her height and not technique. The other good one we have is Nastya S. but sadly is still not injury free. Hopefully in the near future, Fetisova will develop her slides and she is really young and will have a bright future in NT.
Although Goncharova and Kosheleva both seem "interchangeable", I don't think moving Kosheleva to OPP position would pay off very nicely. And besides, Goncharova is more effective as OPP than OH. The only time I would move the latter to OH is if Gamova was present. Speaking of opposites, Daria Isaeva from the B team really impresses me. If not only for her "height" (186cm) she would have been considered as OPP on A team (maybe as OH?). I agree with Brazildk, I would like to see Pisarenko move to A team. Assuming no Kosheleva, Ilchenko/Pisarenko seems a nice combination.
