Uralochka-NTMK vs. Zarechye-Odintsovo | HIGHLIGHTS | SemiFinals | SuperLeague 2025-2026

In the first set, both teams entered the court with their optimal line-ups, which signaled a tense battle from the very first plays. The players of Zarechye-Odintsovo immediately demonstrated their readiness, with Elena Mladenovic successfully blocking Olga Vaganova's attack and accurately passing the ball under the second line. Yulia Brovkina also contributed with another successful block. Initially, the Sverdlovsk team allowed the visitors to take the lead, but their timely composure prevented them from reaching a critical point. So, the small leadership of the players from the Moscow region was interrupted and equalized – 6:6. During the game, the Ural players made minor mistakes, and Zarechye was unstable on the receiving end, which did not allow either team to lead in the score. Elizaveta Fitisova demonstrated elusive attacks, and Elizaveta Protopopova effectively played back from the block. Meanwhile, Konstantin Ushakov's team was not far behind: Eva Pavlovich Mori was reliably paired with Mladenovic and Brovkina. Their captain, Olga Biryukova, was unable to enter the game mode. Konstantin Ushakov made changes in the set, link, and diagonal, but they were unable to turn the tide of the game. Uralochka-NTMK eventually defeated their opponents: Olga Khlebnikova accelerated her passes to the third zone, where Oksana Shvydkaya scored perfectly. They added beauty with a powerful attack by Fitisova and her own block, along with Branka Tica, resulting in a score of 24:22. The set ended with a mistake by Biryukova in the attack.

After losing the first set, the Zarechye-Odintsovo players entered the court with renewed vigor, ready to showcase their best abilities. The second set began with an aggressive press from the Odintsovo players, who actively used the play through Brovkina and increased their use of discounts. This allowed the guests to quickly take the lead and score 8:4. The Ural players lost their concentration for a while, which affected their reception. Mikhail Karpol was forced to take a timeout, which gave the hosts a new impetus. Zarechye continued to build its advantage, maintaining a four-point lead – 12:8. The Ural players were no longer intimidated by this situation. The hardened character and emotions displayed in time allowed Uralochka-NTMK, as well as two consecutive aces from Elizaveta Pavlova, who came in as a substitute, to get as close as possible – 12:13. Then they evened the score – 15:15. Titsa and Shvydkaya charged at full speed in unison with the powerful support of the Ural fans. Now the Ural girls were leading the score – 18:17. Konstantin Ushakov's team began to make mistakes in their attacks and offenses, which had a negative impact on their game and the score. Titsa became a real stumbling block for the guests' defense, breaking it down and bringing the score to 24:23. She also delivered a similar spectacular finish in the second set.

The third set began with a confident surge from Uralochka-NTMK, with Titsa flying like a bird and stinging like a bee. She was actively assisted by Protopopova in the attack, while Fitisova shone on the block – 4:2. Zarechye-Odintsovo looked lost at this point, the game was not going well, and their own mistakes prevented them from showing what they were capable of. To shake up the team, Konstantin Ushakov took a timeout. And it worked. Immediately after the break, Biryukova scored an ace, followed by another point, while Elena Mladenovich set two blocks. The Moscow region volleyball players felt a surge of energy and excitement, and the deficit was reduced to a minimum of 9:10. The coaches on the sidelines encouraged their players, saying, "Now is the time to take the lead!" Indeed, if not now, then never. The Zarechye players seemed to hear this call, knowing that there might not be another opportunity. They started to increase the pace, trying to win back the game, and soon the score was equal – 14:14. From that moment on, the game turned into a real battle – 18:18, 21:21, 23:23. In the decisive moments, Mikhail Karpol's players played more stable and cleaner. It was they who were able to snatch victory in this tense game with a score of 25:23, securing the first victory in the semi-final series.

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