National League Round: Zhayik Uralsk 1-2 Burevestnik Almaty
The match kicked off at 14:00 local time on March 16, 2026, at the home venue of Zhayik Uralsk. In a tightly contested National League fixture, Burevestnik Almaty secured a hard-fought 2-1 comeback victory over Zhayik Uralsk, a result that solidifies their position in the upper half of the table while dealing a blow to Uralsk's playoff aspirations.
The home side started brightly, taking an early lead in the first set with aggressive serving and sharp attacks from their outside hitters. Zhayik controlled the tempo and seemed poised to dominate, taking the opening set convincingly. However, Burevestnik Almaty regrouped impressively in the second set. Their block began to find its timing, frustrating the Uralsk attackers and creating transition opportunities. The momentum shifted decisively as Burevestnik leveled the match by winning a tense second set. The deciding third set was a nail-biter, with both teams exchanging points in a display of defensive resilience. The key moment came late in the set when Burevestnik's opposite hitter delivered a powerful cross-court kill on match point, sealing a 2-1 victory (set scores approximately 25-20, 22-25, 23-25).
The standout performance came from Burevestnik Almaty's setter, who masterfully distributed the ball in the latter stages, exploiting gaps in the Uralsk defense. Zhayik will rue several missed service opportunities and unforced errors at critical junctures in the final set. This result sees Burevestnik Almaty climb several places, adding crucial points in their quest for a top-four finish. For Zhayik Uralsk, the defeat leaves them languishing in the lower mid-table, needing a strong finish to the season. In post-match comments, the Burevestnik coach praised his team's character: "After losing the first set, the response was perfect. We showed great mental strength." The Zhayik manager was reflective, stating, "We had our chances but lacked composure in the key moments. We must learn from this."
The starting lineups featured Zhayik Uralsk's usual rotation, led by their captain at libero, while Burevestnik Almaty fielded a strong side with their primary opposite and middle blocker pairing causing problems throughout.