Russia NT 2021

    AFAIK, they are already training.



    These are the players I remember

    S: Selyutina, Kobzar

    MB: Kochurina, Slautina, Suvorova, Menshchikova

    OH/OPP: Kadochkina, Akimova, Chernova, Gatina, Kostina

    L: Perova, Shubina


    Popova, Gorbunova, and probably Matveeva will join later.

    Quote from Umu11

    I thought Kadochkina wasn’t included in senior team due to an injury. It would be awkward if she joins u20 team but not senior team.

    That was a controversial decision for Buzato :down:. I mean, he brought Gorbunova to Rimini who's the same age as Kadochkina (indeed, they were born the same year, month, and day :rolll:) and not her.

    Quote from psganzon

    is kadockina an OPP or OH?

    I think she played as Opp first, but I read some interview of her she prefers playing as OH

    Quote from Husky123

    That was a controversial decision for Buzato :down:. I mean, he brought Gorbunova to Rimini who's the same age as Kadochkina (indeed, they were born the same year, month, and day :rolll:) and not her.

    Kadochkina had a poor club season and afaik she wants to play OH. But with her current reception skills she is not a candidate for a NT OH spot. She had health issues the season before but hardly missed a game last season.

    With Parubets not making it to Tokyo, I think Russia's OH roster is now more or less set: Voronkova, Fedorovtseva, Kosheleva & Smirnova (Smirnova can do both attack and reception duties, but of course not as efficient as Parubets). Only remaining question mark is the 3rd MB and Goncharova's backup (most likely Lazareva).

    So sad to see a player missing OG, good that she is still young will have her chances during next cycle. I hope she would be able to play in ECh at least


    It might be a shining opportunity for Arina🙏

    Quote from inc0gnito

    With Parubets not making it to Tokyo, I think Russia's OH roster is now more or less set: Voronkova, Fedorovtseva, Kosheleva & Smirnova (Smirnova can do both attack and reception duties, but of course not as efficient as Parubets). Only remaining question mark is the 3rd MB and Goncharova's backup (most likely Lazareva).

    And the 2nd setter.

    Quote from Sean_YYY

    And the 2nd setter.

    Should be Romanova. She missed this year's VNL due to minor injury to recover for OG.

    So which players made their case for Tokyo?


    Opp: Goncha, ? (Lazareva vs Smirnova)


    Setter: Startseva, Romanova(if healthy enough)


    libero: Malova


    Middles: Koroleva, ?, ? Fetisova has never been herself since her injury and her performance here was better during club season. Attack is never going to be her strong suit but even her blocking has been meh. Since Enina and Efimova are joining I might as well take them.


    OH: Voronkova, Fedorovtseva, Kosheleva, ? (Smirnova can be the 4th OH but I want someone who is decent in reception. Those 3 can take the hitting load but honestly I will take Pilipenko at this point as the defensive specialist.)


    My final tokyo team is


    Setter: Romanova, Startseva

    Libero: Malova

    Opp: Goncharova, Lazareva

    Middles: Koroleva, Enina, Efimova

    OH: Voronkova, Fedorovtseva, Kosheleva, Pilipenko.

    I agree, i think Russia should definitely get a defensive specialist considering other 3 OHs

    Lazareva didn't really convince me as Goncha's backup with the little matches she has played. I argue even Arina would make a better backup Opp than her. I would take Smirnova as second Opp at least she can be useful as a serving sub