The first round of the 2024/25 Russian Men’s Superliga concluded today with three matches, marking an exciting start to the season. After the withdrawal of Belarusian team Shakhtior, 15 teams are participating in the tournament, with Lokomotiv Novosibirsk sitting out the first round.
On September 4, the championship kicked off with a straight-set victory for Gazprom-Yugra Surgut over MGTU Moscow, a match filled with intense moments despite the clean scoreline. The hosts struggled early on with unforced errors, trailing behind MGTU at one point, but managed to close out the set 27-25. Key plays by players like Papazov and libero Kirillov helped Surgut clinch the match, with scores of 27-25, 25-23, and 25-22.
The following days saw more action:
- September 7:
- Dynamo-Ural (Ufa) vs. NOVA Novokuybyshevsk: 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-23)
- Notable players: Potalyuk (22), Krsmanovic (13) for Dynamo-Ural; Rybakov (11), Feoktistov (7) for Nova.
- Neftyanik (Orenburg) vs. Zenit (St. Petersburg): 0-3 (13-25, 18-25, 12-25)
- Zenit dominated with Marlon Yant and Uladzislau Babkevich leading the charge.
- Dynamo-LO (Sosnovy Bor) vs. ASK (Nizhny Novgorod): 3-2 (25-20, 22-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-12)
- A five-set thriller, with standout performances from Melgarejo (20) and Audochanka (16) for Dynamo-LO, and Zheleznyakov (27) for ASK.
- Dynamo-Ural (Ufa) vs. NOVA Novokuybyshevsk: 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-23)
- September 8:
- Kuzbass (Kemerovo) vs. Yenisey (Krasnoyarsk): 1-3 (23-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-25)
- Murashko and Bocharov’s combined efforts helped Yenisey secure the win.
- Fakel (Novy Urengoy) vs. Dynamo (Moscow): 1-3 (25-18, 18-25, 21-25, 18-25)
- Moscow’s Dynamo, led by Sokolov (19) and Bogdan (17), took control after a slow start.
- Belogorie (Belgorod) vs. Zenit-Kazan: 2-3 (19-25, 25-22, 25-22, 19-25, 8-15)
- A close battle with Kazan edging out in the final set, thanks to key plays from Volkov and Mikhaylov.
- Kuzbass (Kemerovo) vs. Yenisey (Krasnoyarsk): 1-3 (23-25, 25-23, 21-25, 15-25)
