'"Energy" Neryungri State District Power Plant'}, coached by Alexander Litvintsev, in the nearby town of Serebryany Bor.

[1][2] In November 2005, she tried out with Fakel Chelyabinsk of the Russian Women's Hockey League (RWHL) and was offered a contract but she declined to join the club due to her mother's failing health.

After making her debut with the senior national team in 2008, she and teammate Alexandra Vafina were invited to play college ice hockey by universities in the United States.

Polunina was a late cut from the Olympic national team in January 2010 but was added to the final roster in place of an injured Anna Shukina.

[2] Her mother died when she was fourteen, at which time she moved to Serebryany Bor and was taken in by her ice hockey coach, Alexander Litvintsev, and his wife, Lena Litvintseva; she regards the Liventsev's daughter, Svetlana Litvinseva, as a sister.