Boris Yeltsin Volleyball Cup

The inaugurating play off of the Yeltsin Cup, participated by 8 national teams, was timed to the opening of large arenas on Mid Ural — Palace of Sporting Games "Uralochka" in Yekaterinburg, and sports and health complex Metallurg-Forum in Nizhny Tagil. The first winner of Yeltsin Cup became Russia National Team, having won all its matches.

Final. Russia — China — 3:1 (25:16, 25:23, 27:29, 26:24). Third place play-off. Azerbaijan — USA — 3:2 (22:25, 28:26, 25:22, 18:25, 15:11).

The second cup play-off due to national teams' preparations to Olympic Games in Athens was held not in June, but in April. Karpol's trainees were a safe bet again. In the final Russian volleyballists strongly overbeat Cuba National Team.

Final. Russia — Cuba — 3:0 (25:19, 25:21, 25:23). Third place play-off. Azerbaijan — Dominican Republic — 3:2 (23:25, 25:21, 20:25, 25:18, 15:6).

This tournament was very different from two previous in the number of participants (6 instead of 8), competition format (one-round tournament with no play-off) and wildly twisting plot. Even after the end of the last match, where Russian National Team led by new coach, Giovanni Caprara, lost Team Azerbaijan in five plays, the name of Boris Yeltsin Cup became known not at once — spectators had to wait for the results of points ratio calculations in all matches of Russia and Netherlands National Teams, as they resulted with absolutely same main indicators — win-lose balance (4—1) and plays ratio (14:6). Scoring revealed Russians to overcome with 0,026.[1] In the competition for the third place Turkey overbeat Azerbaijan only by plays ratio.

As expected, Russia and China teams met in the final of the fourth Yeltsin Cup. Asian team, having nine olympic champions of Athens-2004 on the roster, celebrated victory in five plays.[2] Boris Yeltsin participated in awarding ceremony and took photos with tournament winners for the last time.

Final. China — Russia — 3:2 (25:22, 14:25, 25:20, 18:25, 15:9). Third place. Netherlands — Turkey — 3:0 (25:17, 25:21, 26:24).

For the first time there was now main fan on the tiers in Yekaterinburg and Tagil. The First President of Russia Boris Yeltsin died on April 23, but great tradition to gather strongest volleyball team of the world on Ural in summer continued. Since that year the tournament was included into the official FIVB schedule.

China National Team, as well as year before, demonstrated the most professional volleyball and accepted greetings from Naina Iosifovna. The play of Chen Zhonghe's trainees was not affected even by the absence of notorious Feng Kun — 18-year-old Wei Qiuyue who substituted her spent the tournament very professionally and was recognized as the best Cup passer by the organizers. In the final Chinese overbeat perspective Team Netherlands in a close affair. The same national teams took two first places on the Grand Prix tournament in the end of August, however in the reverse order as in the final tournament in Ningbo Dutch managed to gain revenge with competition hosts, and then celebrate general victory.

Russia National Team for the first time in Yeltsin Cup participated as reigning world champion, even though some of the key players were not participating. Also, for the first time, local fans did not see the players of local club among the national team players. Nontheless legendary Uralochka trainee Olga Fateeva became among three most resultive players of the tournament (the best by this indicator the leader of Turkey National Team Neslihan Darnel, she was also recognized as tournament's MVP).[3]

Final. China — Netherlands — 3:1 (25:21, 22:25, 25:18, 37:35). Third place. Russia — Turkey — 3:1 (19:25, 25:23, 25:23, 25:20).

Tournament was held in the same format as in 2005. The participants list due to very dense international schedule of national teams, getting prepared to Olympics in Beijing, appeared to be weaker, than previous years. Russia National Team secured its first place one tour before the end of the competition. Yekaterina Gamova and national team captain Marina Sheshenina became four-time winners of the First President of Russia Cup. Outside hitter of the Netherlands National Team Debby Stam were recognized to be MVP.

Russia National Team secured its title of the strongest team of yeltsin Cup. On the way to play-off Russians lost to Japan and Azerbaijan National Teams, but in semifinal it sensationally overbeat Team Netherlands, and gained revenge with Japanese in the final match. This victory became the first success of the renewed national team led by Vladimir Kuzyutkin. Netherland National Team opposite Manon Flier were recognized as tournament MVP. Ural girl Marina Sheshenina who participated in all five victorious tournaments of Russia National Team was awarded with "Miss Tournament" prize, while Japanese passer Yoshie Takeshita was awarded with "For loyalty to volleyball" prize.

Final. Russia — Japan — 3:2 (20:25, 25:20, 25:18, 20:25, 16:14). Third place. Netherlands — Cuba — 3:0 (25:17, 25:23, 25:21).

The tournament was contested by 6 teams, with each team playing with its groupmates in the group round, and having friendly game with one of the teams from the other group. The key favorites, Russia and China National Teams, played together no-account opening match, and met 5 days after in the final match with Russians both times being more successful. China National Team middle blocker Xue Ming was awarded with Yeltsin Cup MVP prize, Dutch Manon Flier received "Miss tournament" award, and Russian National team passer Yevgeniya Startseva was called the best young player.

Final. Russia — China — 3:0 (30:28, 25:16, 25:17). Third place. Netherlands — Italy — 3:0 (25:23, 25:19, 25:23).

The tournament was held in the same format as in the previous year. Yekaterina Gamova and Lyubov Sokolova, as well as both main libero — Ekaterina Kabeshova and Svetlana Kryuchkova were not on the roster of Russia National Team. In the semifinal, where Team Russia lost to the Yeltsin Cup first-timer Brazil National Team with score 2:3, Tatiana Kosheleva and Nataliya Goncharova got injured. In the final match brazilians, who also lacked some key players, lost to China National Team on a tie-break, while Russia in strong competition with Team Poland won "bronze".[4]

Final. China — Brazil — 3:2 (37:35, 19:25, 25:27, 25:23, 15:10). Third place. Russia — Poland — 3:2 (22:25, 25:22, 25:22, 22:25, 16:14).

Five teams, that came to Yekaterinburg to the Jubilee X Boris Yeltsin Cup, played in a round robin. Till the final day of the competition Russia and Italy National Teams had chances to hold the first place. Lyubov Sokolova and Tatiana Kosheleva participated in Team Russia after a break, but did not take part in the matches, while Italy National Team included almost the whole team of Worl Cup 2011 winners. Russia National Team scored 3:0 (25:23, 25:18, 25:22) in the match of the two teams and became the cup winner for the seventh time. Individual prizes were as follows: MVP — Yekaterina Gamova, Miss Tournament — Nataliya Obmochaeva, best young player — Yevgeniya Startseva.

In 2013, in the start of a new olympic cycle and before Kazan Universiade, most of participating teams of Boris Yeltsin Cup significantly renewed their rosters. Carolina Costagrande was the only player of Italy National Team to participate in London Olympics, while among Russia National Team roster such players were Maria Borodakova, Nataliya Goncharova and Svetlana Kryuchkova (the latter did not play due to injury). In the final match between these competitors, Yuri Marichev team won.[5] Paolo Tofoli led the play of "Squadra Azzurra" in Yekaterinburg instead of head coach Marco Mercanelli, who stayed at the Appenines. His playmaker Indre Sorocaite became the tournament's MVP. One of the main events of XI Boris Yeltsin Cup was victory parede of USSR National Team players, who won the gold of Seoul Olympics 25 years before.

Final. Russia — Italy — 3:1 (22:25, 25:21, 25:14, 25:18). Third place. Dominican Republic — Cuba — 3:1 (25:16, 25:27, 25:22, 25:22).

In 2014 Yeltsin Cup got a new champion — Bulgaria National Team, that won under the leadership of the former mentor of Russia National Team Vladimir Kuzyutkin who took his office in February. Team Russia, unlike its competitors, participated in the tournament lacking its key players — Nataliya Obmochaeva, Tatiana Kosheleva, Iuliia Morozova, Anastasia Shlyakhovaya. Starting with defeat from the Netherlands and having won Dominican Republic in a tie break, Yuri Marichev's charges managed to get to semi-final due to Dutch victory over Dominicans in the final day of the group stage. Both semifinal matches resulted in 3:2 — Russia won Japan, while Bulgaria, that also started the tournament from a defeat, appeared to be stronger than Netherlands National Team. The final match lasted more than two hours, and Bulgarians were losing 1:2, but due to better fitness shape the won the ending of the fourth play. At the beginning of the tie break, when the main opposite of their rivals Natalia Malykh turned ankle and was substituted, Bulgarians gained desisive advantage. MVP prize was awarded to Netherlands National Team playmaker Judith Pietersen. Fans actively participated in charity lottery "My vmeste" (We are together), having collected RUB 91 450 during 5 days of competition.

Final. Bulgaria — Russia — 3:2 (16:25, 25:20, 28:30, 25:23, 15:11). Third place. Netherlands — Japan — 3:0 (25:22, 25:14, 25:17).

The tournament was contested by 5 teams in a round robin. Israel and Czech Republic Netional Teams became the newplyers of the Yeltsin Cup. Russia National Team became the victoror of the tournament with no play lost. Russian team opposite Nataliya Obmochaeva was awarded MVP, Moran Zur (Israel) — the best playmaker, Yekaterina Zhdanova — the best blocker, Anna Malova (Russia) — the best libero, Gung Xianiu (China) — the best server, Pavla Winkourowa (Czech Republic) — the best setter, Ksenia Alexandrovna Ilchenko — the best young player of Russia national Team, Aleksandra Pasynkova got "Miss Tournament" award.

In 2016 the tournament was shifted to September and dedicated to 50th anniversary of Uralochka-NTMK volleyball club. Due to specifications of sports schedule in olympic season alternative team roster applied for participation in Yeltsin Cup. Uralochka, reinforced with two Kazan Dynamo volleyballists (Irina Zaryazhko and Daria Stolyarova), and led by Nikolay Karpol and Rishat Giliazutdinov, represented Russia National Team. Switzerland, reprezented by Volero team (Zurich) under Zoran Terzić leadership, became the winner of the tournament. The competition was also contested by Krasnodar Dinamo and Turkey U23 National Team.[6] Volero playmaker Dobriana Rabajiyeva was recognized as XIV Yeltsin Cup MVP.

5 teams participated in XV Yeltsin Cup play-off. The fate of te trophy was decided in the final day in the match between Russia and Serbia National Teams, both suffering no defeat before the match. Silver medalists of Rio de Janeiro Olympics in five plays overbeat Team Russia, newly led by Vladimir Kuzyutkin in the beginning of the year. Serbia National Team mentor Zoran Terzić became Yeltsin Cup winner for second time in a raw. Individual awards went to Russians Yevgeniya Startseva (best passer), Irina Koroleva (best blocker), Anna Lazareva (best young player), Radmila Beresneva from Kazakhsnan (best server), Turkish Simge Şebnem Aköz (best libero), Bulgarian Elitsa Vasileva ("Miss tournament"), Serbians Bojana Živković (best passer) and Brankica Mihajlović (MVP).[7]

Yeltsin Cup 2018 was a part of the first stage of a new international tournament — League of Nations consisting of national teams of Russia, Argentina, Netherlands and Thailand. The fate of the title was determined in the final playing day in a match between Russia and Netherlands National Teams, where Dutch gained victory scoring 3:0.[8]