It was too little to late for St. Petersburg. I also feel they are yet to find their best form, but I think the team lacks a good bench too. There's no one with a good serve to come in, inversion is not used...
As for Kazan they played a great match overall, with Mikhaylov being their main weapon.
Good to see Alekno is giving chance to the young libero. Not bad to win the world's youth and soon after be playing such a high level game
I said about the lack of a good serve and then Yakovkev had two good ones. A bit of pressure to Kazan now.
Yakovlev should be one of the MBs that go to Tokyo along with Kurkaev. 3rd MB can be Muserskiy if he is healthy.
As far as I remember they were the chosen in the last tournaments.
St. Petersburg serving line is not working so Kliuka.
Mikhaylov is in a super form. Poletaev will have to step up if he wants to be the main OPP in NT.
Kliuka looks passive when the setting is not perfect, should stop the constant tips
Started to watch in the second set and Kliuka/Camejo due is struggling as expected against a top serving team.
Yes, she is his sister! Pankov is supposed to be the principal setter after Butko and Grankin's retiring, but there is still other options like Abaev who is improving faster. Even Kobzar and Kovalev could be part of the team.
He was definitely expected to be in NT along with the other golden boys, but then Kobzar and Kovalev got the " young spots" back then. I feel like he took a little longer to mature, but IMO he is the best option for the NT at the moment.
Unfortunately, I don't think he will have a chance till after Tokyo. Sammelvuo will probably stick to Kozar, Kovalev, and Butko as they have been part of teh team for most of the olimpic cycle. I certainly wouldn't bring Butko, but Kovalev's sets are so unstable. It is really whether his skills in blocking and serving which are really really great in an inverson are worthy the risk or not. Sometimes people forget that it is not only about who is better, but who can bring something that particular team needs.
There was definitely a tension between the teams, and it was clear since the first game. I know Adenízia is over the top, but she is always like that, and the other players know it, as most have been at some point her teammate.
Anyway, congrats to Osasco, they manage to pull togheter after the loss in the prelimary round and the insane recovery yesterday. As for Sesi, I do honestly they they can win the superliga. The team is very balanced, some players just need more stability.Most importantly, Dani MUST continuously use her middles and engage the OHs, as some stated her game when Polina is playing gets too predictable, but off course, Mara, Suelle and Tiffany need to step up and help killing the ball too
Adenízia is just playing superbly
Besides Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, the following teams have also been put in quarentine: Nizhny Novgorod, Belogorie Belgorod and Neftyanik Orenburg.
With all this pauses and different conditions, it just gets harder to predict something. Probably teams with a good depth in key positions will succed.
Kazan definitily outplayed kuzbass, but in fairness, Zaitsev did a good job, being the biggest scorer with 62% in attack. The true is that in the others postions, given normal conditions there is just no comparison...
I do agree that Evdokimova is an interesting all-round MB, but I am not sure whether I would invite her, and today the MB it was Zaytseva the MB who's shone actually. Being the best scorer in her team is quite a good way to prove herself after being bench for sa while. Fetisova and Zaryashko are locked in the first 2 choices, and I reckon the third choice will be based on this season performance. Efimova had an upper hand, but benched in the start of the season... The former Evdokimova's partner in Uralochka, Enina, is doing pretty good so far too
Looking at the rosters, some teams seem to be changing quite a lot and are yet to play with their full roster. As someone already mentioned it is not only happening in Russia, other leagues have the same problem. Be it due to Covid or a short pre-season which can leads to more injuries/bad shape.
I do agree that both Zenits are favourite, Bednorz was a great addition to Kazan, but I would add Moscow too. They have started quite well and have a balanced team with a solid bench. Re bench, that's where St. Petersburg may suffer, I don't see a good depth and Kliuka/Camejo can be problematic against a powerful serving team.
As far as I know he is ok, but he didn't play at the preliminary stage of the russian cup, so that was his first game of the season. Worthwhile mentioning that Lokomotiv St. Petersburg had many Covid-19 infections while playing at the russian cup. I don't know who though and whether that might still be impacting their performance.
Below you can check a great sum up of the first round.
http://www.volley.ru/news/22571/
The league seems promising this year. Quite a few important moves within the league and now there are many potential winning contenders.
Zenit St. Petersburg started slow. It seems that Kliuka & Camejo might take a while to function, being both offensive OHs.
Kolesnik and Lavia showing the speedos' power 
The video is shameful. I couldn't identify the others who were near him but if they were his teamates they should be treated with similar disgust as they seem to try to defend him and pretend nothing happend.
Kazan used to be my favourite team, but now I am more than happy to see such a disastrous season both in the national russian league and in the world club championship.
While I agree with people saying Efimova isn't very good and I don't think she should play for Russia, it was more than just her that didn't play well on the court today. If your OPP and both OHs aren't scoring reliably, you don't have much chance to beat Italy no matter who your MBs are.
When you read the comments it seems like Efimova had a terrible match, but she actually had 7/8 + 1 block. It was not really a bad match. The problem for me was clearly the two OH, both shaky in the reception line and not scoring on attack, apart from some dubious choices from the setter.
PS: I do not think Efimova should be in the team either, as mentioned here she lacks athleticism, and there are better options, but i have to say that she has improved in attack over the summer IMO.
Voronkova can't kill a single ball. Parubets struggles most of the time. It is actually quite surprising that Russia is managing to do an even match against Italy
It's not an excuse, I'm not anyone's lawyer. I'm giving you an explanation of what may have gone through those 3 players' heads. I know what they did is wrong.
As was posted before by someone, you may be overstimating how informed some people are about racism, despite being well-travelled professional players. It's not really a matter of "common sense", if it was common sense then things like KKK or those popular european xenophobic political leaders wouldn't exist. Education plays a big part in preventing this.
Totally agree. When it comes to cultural perceptions, differences exist, by extent, ignorant behaviour is inevitable. It doesn't necessarily mean racism though. I personally don't consider myself an uncultured person and yet wouldn't think this is deemed as a racist gesture.
Some people seem to not accept that others may come from a different background. Dialogue is what should be pursued and not
constant public bashing.
Congrats to Russia!! Overall they had a nice tournament since group stage and managed to test a lot of the youngsters. Despite the title I don't see them in the top when the other teams bring their best.
With this current line up Russia have a very great floating/jumping service balance. A lot less prone to error , yet efficient. Volvich main contribution for me was his floating service, but now both Yakovlev and Kurkaev have got it too and they are more complete so unless Muserskiy is not returning I don't see him back. I definitely wouldn't bring Butko and Grankin, but I sense that at least one of whom will be called. Kliuka-Volkov duo is unstable so is Poletaev ( especially out of system ) so Mikhailov return is essential here. Kudos to Golubev and the the defense-reception line, a clear progress.
A lot of nerves and erros in this first set. Neither of the teams displayed a good performance. Hope they raise the level and that we have a good match from now onwards
Iakovlev is such a revelation this year.. such high efficiency in attack and solid blocking plus a good serve
EDIT: And he got blocked I jinxed him lol
I agree, a pleasant surprise considering his irregular club season.
Golubev also improved a lot since the start of this VNL
