Maxim Sapozhkov, who played in the Bulgarian championship for Montana, is now a Russian champion. The opposite hitter was among the key figures for Dinamo (Moscow), who defeated Zenit-Kazan 3:0 (27:25, 25:23, 25:13) in the third match of the final series and closed the title battle with a decisive 3-0 victory.
Thus, after Tsvetan Sokolov, another volleyball player connected with Bulgaria, also reached the championship title with the Moscow team.
Sapozhkov finished the match as Dinamo's top scorer with 19 points, setting a strong tone for the team in the very first set – 8 points and 75% attack efficiency. It was he who ended the drama in the opening set when he blocked Dmitry Volkov for 27:25.
In the second set, Dinamo again withstood the pressure from Zenit-Kazan and won 25:23, despite fluctuations in attack from both sides. The Moscow team compensated with better blocking and stability in the decisive rallies.
The fate of the third set was decided by a series of powerful serves by Anton Semyshev, who scored several direct points and secured a comfortable lead. Until the end, Dinamo completely dominated, and Pavel Pankov put an end to the dispute with an ace.
| Final, Match #3 | Score |
|---|---|
| Dinamo Moscow – Zenit-Kazan | 3:0 (27:25, 25:23, 25:13) |
| Series | 3-0 for Dinamo Moscow |
| Top Scorers | Sapozhkov 19, Bogdan 14, Semyshev 12 – Mikhailov 10, Labinsky 10, Volkov 9 |
Dinamo won the title with more stable play in key moments – better blocking, more effective serving, and more confidence at the end of the first two sets. Zenit-Kazan had their chances but failed to convert them.
For Dinamo, this is their fifth Russian title in club history (2006, 2008, 2021, 2022, 2026), while Zenit-Kazan remained with silver medals after a series of three consecutive championship seasons.
photo: Nikolay Varadinov
