Moscow's "Dynamo" solidified its dominance in the semifinal series against "Zenit" Saint Petersburg with a convincing 3:0 (25:19, 30:28, 25:21) and qualified for the final, with opposite Maxim Sapozhkov – a former player for Bulgarian Montana – playing a key role.
It was Sapozhkov who tipped the scales in favor of the Muscovites. He scored 20 points with an impressive 69% attack efficiency (18/26) and an efficiency rating of +13. Besides the statistics, the opposite also stood out in decisive moments – he closed the first set, delivered a key ace in the second, and ended the match with a powerful attack on a clear net.
The difference between the two teams came precisely from the play of the opposites – Sapozhkov dominated, while Vladislav Babkevich was limited to 15 points with only a 39% success rate, which proved fatal for "Zenit," whose game remains highly dependent on him.
Overall, "Dynamo" controlled the match through strong serving and better attack organization (46:31 points in attack), and Sapozhkov was the main finishing element in Konstantin Bryansky's well-balanced system. The series concluded with a 3–1 victory, with the Muscovites showing more depth and class in the key moments.
In the final, "Dynamo" will await the winner of the series between "Lokomotiv" Novosibirsk and "Zenit" Kazan, where the reigning champion leads 2–1, and the fourth match between the two teams is scheduled for today.
Photo:vcdynamo.ru