Uralochka-NTMK beat Lokomotiv on the road in Kaliningrad in the first match of the final series of the 2021/22 Russian Women’s Volleyball Championship.
The 5th-seed and surprising finalists of the 2021/22 Women’s Superliga Paribet (Суперлига Парибет Женщины) Uralochka turned out to be stronger than 3rd-seed Lokomotiv in Game 1 of the title face-off. Mikhail Karpol’s team prevailed in three highly intense sets, each going into ‘overtime’: 26-24, 26-24, 28-26.
The first set seemed to be a one-way street for the visiting side as they had 17-12 and 21-18. However, Lokomotiv leveled at 22-22. At 24-24, Uralochka took 2 points in a row to close this period. The second and third sets didn’t lag behind the first in terms of competitiveness. Again, it was 24-24 before the Ekaterinburg team earned themselves the win in the partial. The third set differed from the previous two due to the fact that Lokomotiv had their first set ball in the entire match at 25-24. At 26-26, Uralochka clinched 2 successive points, converting their third match ball.
Cuban Ailama Cesé top-scored the winning side with 20 points, while Elizaveta Kotova made 4 blocks. Irina Voronkova tallied 21 points for Lokomotiv.
2021/22 Women’s Superliga Paribet – playoff finals, Game 1:
Lokomotiv – Uralochka 0-3 (24-26, 24-26, 26-28)
