Kazan, Russia, April 11, 2017.  Saint Petersburg hall hosted the first final match of a busy fortnight as we enter the most important part of the 2017 European Cups season.  There have been 36 teams in this seasons CEV Volleyball Cup, but we are now down to the last two.  After 118 minutes the home team of Dinamo KAZAN came out from the 1st leg with a 3-1 victory (25-18, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22) over Unet Yamamay BUSTO ARSIZIO of Italy.

The Russian team dominated for large periods and took the 1st, 2nd and 4th sets.  In the 3rd set the travelling team came back into it with a fairly comfortable set victory, but it was not enough to save this match, but all is still to play later this weekend in Italy.

It was a level playing field up to the middle of the first set and neither of the teams were able to gain the momentum. However, the clubs followed different patterns in tactics. The visiting team put bold bets on the Dominican-born Brayelin Martinez who paced up the Italian offense, though making a few mistakes because of heavy load of multiple attacks she was challenged to finish.  As for Dinamo KAZAN, the Russian attack was more varied: all the frontline players attacked effectively. The home team finally closed in at 12-all and broke away cementing a comprehensive margin of six points – 18-12. Daria Isaeva gave no chance for Unet Yamamay to claw back as she was much faster than the Italian block and Dinamo KAZAN cashed the set to 18 points.

Inspired by the success in the opening set, the Dinamo KAZAN players demonstrate even stronger, more powerful and high-class Volleyball in the second set. Irina Voronkova and Elitsa Vasileva attacked very aggressively (8-5).  In truth the home team led from the early stages, but gradually the visitors cut the lead to a minimum advantage of 18-17. However, the mistakes made by Busto at service line and in attack, allowed the Russians to keep the lead (22-19). Then, Voronkova won a hard-fought ball after finally blocking the attempt of Federica Stufi and Vasileva sealed the second set 25-22.

Thanks to brilliant serving, Dinamo KAZAN broke away in the third set – 6-2. But then the Italians, playing superbly in defence, won several long rallies and tied the game at 7-7. After the second technical time-out (16-13), Unet Yamamay, version 2.0, appeared onto court. Mighty and mind-boggling serves by Martinez, who returned on court, turned out to be too much ti stand for the Russian reception and Dinamo lost the advantage (16-17).  The Italian girls surprisingly gained the momentum improving attacks and extending their lead (20-17), leaving the hosts with no chance for a comeback.

After such a spectacular performance, the visiting team dominated the court in the beginning of the fourth set, but Irina Voronkova helped cut the deficit to one point with several precisely finished spikes (10-11). The Italians responded and edged ahead (15-12), but thanks to Anastasia Podoshvina’s serve, the Russians turned the tables (16-15). Strong and loud support from the 2,000 spectators in the stands helped Dinamo KAZAN show more composed and strong-willed Volleyball. Elitsa Vasileva scored several rather challenging points and, finally, after blocking Brayelin Martinez the result was sealed with a solid victory leaving Dinamo requiring only two sets on Saturday in the 2nd leg.

Rishat Gilyazutdinov, Head Coach of Dinamo KAZAN: “Unet Yamamay is a very powerful, tall team. They have their own specific style of play. Secondly, it was a real challenge for us, seriously, the opponent began to play a little differently, but still very powerful and with the same commitment and dedication. At some point we failed to cope with them, largely because of our own fatigue.”

Alexander Perepelkin, Assistant Coach of Dinamo KAZAN: “At the beginning of the match it was clear that the Italians were truly affected by the atmosphere of the arena as they were a visiting team, it took them a while to adapt to it. But at the same time, perhaps, it was our worst game over the recent period, we did not perform as we should. It will be necessary to think over a lot and to readjust our game before the re-match.”

Marco Mencarelli, Head Coach of Unet Yamamay: “In the first set, Dinamo KAZAN played very well, and we could not block their attacks. In the second set, things went better for our block, and the game slightly levelled. We managed to win the third set thanks to the good game of our rather tall outside spikers. In the fourth set, it was a level, neck to neck game. But at the very end, Dinamo KAZAN played more composedly, effectively, in true team spirit, and therefore they succeeded in winning the match.”

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