The Russian women's volleyball team is undergoing a generational change. Such talented girls as Natalya Malykh, Irina Fetisova come to replace the legendary athletes who left. Volleyball in Russia will not be left unattended. The central blocking Dynamo Moscow will be discussed.
The daughter of a famous basketball player who made her own choice
Irina Andreevna Fetisova was born far from Russia in 1994 in the Spanish city of Valladolid. Irina’s dad Andrei Fetisov was a famous basketball player, played for CSKA for many years, and at the end of his career moved to the Spanish club Forum. Hence the unusual place of birth for a Russian woman. Soon, together with her family, she moved to St. Petersburg.
When a child is born in a sports family, whom nature has awarded high growth, he is faced with a choice - basketball or volleyball. First, Ira decided to go on her father's path. For two years she was engaged in basketball, but fate intervened - her coach left Russia. Ira made a choice in favor of volleyball and began to train at the Spartak sports school in St. Petersburg. Her first coach was Nina Ivanovna Tkharkakhova. Then the athlete will gratefully recall her mentor, who did not allow the girl to go back to basketball.
The beginning of a professional career
Already at the age of fifteen, Irina Fetisova was played in the second Leningradka team. Volleyball became the main job for a very young girl.
A talented girl with excellent natural data and excellent jumping ability did not go unnoticed by the coaches of youth teams. In 2010, as part of the junior national team of Russia, she wins the tournament of the East European teams. A year later, Irina Fetisova participates in the qualifying competitions of the European Championship.
In 2011, she moved to the Moscow Region to play for the youth composition of the strong team of the Russian super league Zarechye-Odintsovo. Accelerating slowly is not in the style of such an athlete as Irina Fetisova. Already in the first season, which she spends in the youth league, Fetisova is gaining 75 points on the block in 23 games. According to this indicator, she becomes the second in the division.
Irina continues to be called in the youth teams of Russia. At the 2013 World Cup, she even enters the symbolic team of the tournament.
Transition to an adult level
At the end of 2012, Irina Fetisova was gradually played up in the main team of the Zarechye-Odintsovo main team. Already in the next season, she becomes the main central blocking team. Largely thanks to the efforts of Irina, the Zarechye-Odintsovo club won the prestigious European trophy - the Challenge Cup. In the final, the Turkish Besiktas was defeated.
The most talented Super League teams notice the talented girl. In 2015, Irina Fetisova transferred to the Moscow Dynamo. According to the contract, she must spend the next two years in the capital's team.
Challenges to the national team
Achievements at the club level were seen by coaches of the national team. For the first time, Irina Fetisova was called to the main team of the country in 2014. She spent several matches at pre-season competitions, and at some of them even earned the title of the best young player.
The first match in official tournaments for the national team was a real test for a young girl. The contender went to the most serious - the US team.
Irina later admitted that she was very worried when she got to the training camp with the main team. After all, she served the balls to many older friends, while she was still a girl. However, she had a great time at all stages of the Grand Prix, and in the final match for third place she scored an important 10 points.
According to the results of the whole tournament, she was included among the best players.
Irina did not slow down in 2015. The Russian team received silver medals at a crucial stage of the Grand Prix. Great merit in this and Irina Fetisova. She was recognized as the best blocker of the final round of competitions.
The main victory of 2015 is the gold medals of the continental championship.
Irina is attracted to qualification matches for the 2016 Olympic tournament. Unfortunately, as in the case of Natalia Malykh, Yuri Marichev does not dare to bet on a young athlete. Fetisova remains cheering for her friends in Rio from TV screens.
Irina has been a key player in her club for several seasons. It is hoped that the new coaches of the Russian team will begin to trust the athletes from the new young generation more.