Malykh Natalya - the new generation of Russian volleyball

The failures of the Russian national volleyball team at the last major tournaments are largely related to the departure of former leaders from the sport. The biggest loss is unquestionably Ekaterina Gamova. She was a permanent diagonal national team for almost 15 years. Nevertheless, a new generation of volleyball players has grown up. One of them is Natalia Nikolaevna Malykh, the main diagonal of the Krasnodar Dynamo.

Talented junior

Malykh Natalia was born in 1993 in Volgograd in an ordinary family. Parents did not build any grand plans for the sporting future of their daughter. In volleyball, the girl came almost by accident. To prevent the child from hanging around while she was being taken away from school, Natasha was enrolled in the volleyball section. So at the age of 8 years began her sports life.

Excellent physical data (the growth of the athlete now - 186 cm) and natural talent played a role - Malykh perfectly learned to play volleyball. The girl also was notable for the non-standard technique of the jump, more similar in performance to the reception from the ballet. At 17 Malykh Natalya was already the main diagonal in the main team of the city. Volgograd Volzhanka then played in the second most powerful division of the national championship in the higher league.

The talented girl was paid attention to the national team. As part of the youth team, she went to the World Cup in Peru. The team as a whole performed unsuccessfully, taking an offensive tenth place, but Natalia herself played brilliantly, becoming the most productive volleyball player in every match.

To storm the Super League

Native Volgograd has become too tight for the talent of Natalia Malykh, and in 2012 she passes into the elite division of Russian volleyball. Her first team of the Super League is "Zarechye-Odintsovo". Already in the starting season the girl becomes the main diagonal team. In 2013, she had a chance to show her leadership qualities. Injury received the central blocking team Ekaterina Bogacheva. Little Natalia, replacing her friend, played in an unusual position for herself and led the team for herself.

In the same year, coach of the national team Yuri Marichev causes her to the team. There she was the youngest among the players. Together with the team, she takes prizes at the tournament "Montreux Will of Masters", wins at the World Student Games in Kazan, wins the Yeltsin Cup.

The first time in the official match for the team Malykh Natalya played against the US team at the Grand Prix. The most significant is the victory at the European Championships held in Germany and Switzerland.

Everything is fine in that season and with club affairs. The third most important tournament in women's team volleyball is the Challenge Cup. "Zarechye-Odintsovo" reached the main match, and there as a real leader showed herself Natalia Malykh. Volleyball is a team game, but personal rewards are also important. Young diagonal scored 24 points in the decisive match against Besiktas and won the most valuable player's prize of the whole final.

Natalia continued to play well for the national team in 2014. Without Ekaterina Gamova in the composition, the coaches bet on the Small, the main diagonal was exactly it. Together with the team, Natalia takes bronze medals at the pre-season tournament "Montreux Wolves Masters", scoring more points. Also girls became the third in Grand Prix competitions.

From Moscow to Krasnodar

In August 2015 Natalia Malykh moved to the Krasnodar Dynamo. Twenty-year-old diagonal becomes the leader of the club. Together with her teammates, she wins the Cup of Russia.

The team plays well in the European arena. For the first time in their history, girls become holders of the ECB Cup. Natalia again plays against the Turkish team in the final. This time the opponent was Galatasaray. Leaders show their best qualities in the finals, and Natalia, having scored 26 points in the decisive game, again receives an MVP award, which is handed to the most useful player.

As a result of the regular season, the team takes the third place, and Malykh gets a chance to play in the main European tournament - the Champions League. With all club success Natalia inexplicably loses her confidence in the coaching staff of the national team. In 2016, halved her allocated playing time in the Grand Prix games. The coach as if specifically uses Natalia for her unfamiliar positions, and she reduces her performance indicators.

As a result, the decision is to withdraw the Small from the composition to the main tournament of the fourth year. For the Olympics in Rio, the team goes without it. A terrible final result showed that not all of Marichev's coaching decisions were correct. Who knows, be in the team of Natalia, it could all work out differently.

Nevertheless, Malykh continues to play qualitatively for the Dynamo. Recently, together with the team, she deserved the right to participate in the group stage of the Champions League, having passed the qualification stage.

Unsports achievements

Natalya Malykh differs not only in her playing. Bright appearance makes it an object of special attention. At many tournaments, she receives prizes awarded to the most attractive volleyball player.

The diagonal itself refers to this with irony - they say, I can not play, but beautiful.

Now Natalia Malykh is at the peak of her sports form. It remains to be hoped that the new coaches of the Russian national team will return their trust to it and will be able to make full use of its talent.