Dinamo-Ak Bars Kazan narrowly defeated Lokomotiv Kaliningrad with a score of 3-2, and evening the playoff final series at 2-2. The intense match unfolded with sets scoring 25-15, 26-24, 19-25, 19-25, and 17-19.
The game began with Lokomotiv showcasing robust defenses and dynamic attacks, securing an early lead with standout performances Kseniia Parubets and Tatiana Tolok. Despite this, the tide shifted in the third set as Dinamo-Ak Bars began a remarkable comeback, tightening their defense and executing flawless attacks led by Brayelin Martínez and Angelina Lazarenko.
Lokomotiv’s early dominance in the first two sets was met with changes from Dinamo-Ak Bars, including substitutions that injected new energy into their gameplay. Notably, Angelina Sperskaite and Polina Matveeva came off the bench, contributing significantly to the turnaround.
The tension peaked during the fifth set, a close tie-breaker where both teams exchanged leads. Dinamo-Ak Bars displayed resilience, overcoming a two-set deficit and multiple match points against them to clinch the victory.
Radoslav Arsov, Lokomotiv’s head coach, expressed disappointment over not securing a win despite the initial advantage. On the other hand, Zoran Terzic of Dynamo-Ak Bars praised his team’s relaxed approach in the face of pressure, which he believed was key to their comeback.
Lokomotiv Kaliningrad vs. Dinamo-Ak Bars 2-3 (25-15, 26-24, 19-25, 19-25, 17-19) Series 2-2
