Russian coach Vladimir Kuzyutkin: Azerbaijani Superleague is much stronger than Russian one.

Russian National team head coach,the last World Champion Vladimir Kuzyutkin talked about the Russian Super league level and comaperd its with Azerbaijani Championship.

"Maybe it is strange,but today Azerbaijani Super league is much stronger and levelled tournament than Russian Super league. For the country whose National team is the last World Champion - it is just a big shame"
"We do not have a lack of money, but I think the problem is that some of our clubs not professionally approach the players, so maybe that`s why foreigners prefer not to come to Russia. But I think because of some clubs the others have hardship."

Azerrail and Igtisadchi won easily, Rabita was in trouble against Loko...

Yesterday, the pause in the Azerbaijani Super league ended with the matches of the VIII leg.
In the first match of the day one of three leaders of the ranking Igtisadchi faced renewed squad of "VC BAKI". Three players of "VC SHIRVAN" were loaned to the "Capitals". Adina Aliyeva, Tanya Sabkova and Paulina Gajewska played their first match for BAKI.
Igtisadchi won this match easily in three sets: (19:25, 14:25, 20:25)
The best players of the match were: Adina Aliyeva ( VC BAKI) and Riikka Lehtonen ( Igtisadchi)

“Bakı” - “İqtisadçı” - 0:3 (19:25, 14:25, 20:25)

“Bakı”: Mojica (Engle), Alvarez (Stoyneva), Aliyeva, Sabkova, Manzoni-Hasalikova, Oquendo, Gajewska (L)

“İqtisadçı”: Weiss (Castiglione), Haneef-Park, Blom,Lehtonen, Fernandez, Milos, Sano (L)

After this match, outsider "VC SHIRVAN" tried to show its best game against Azerrail with its young and perspective National team players.
Azerrail started the match with powerful spikes by Rahimova and Pereira Paulino, and closed the first set 21-25. The following two sets Azerrail played more easily and won the match in straight sets. 11-25: 12-25
The best players of the match were: Jordana Price ( VC SHIRVAN) and Polina Rahimova (Azerrail )

“Şirvan” - “Azərreyl” - 0:3 (21:25, 11:25, 12:25)

“Şirvan”: Ivanova , Zamanova, Prupas, U.Karimova, Price, Abdulazimova, Baghiyeva (L)

“Azərreyl”: Peretiatko (Nootsara), Pereira-Paulino, Rahimova, Hanikoglu, Karimova, Tamas (Petkova), Korotenko (L)




The central match of the leg was the battle between the finalists of the last season. Lokomotiv played against Rabita which was looking forward to take revenge for the defeat in the first round where Rabita was beaten in five sets thriller.
Rabita started the match without its leader and captain Mammadova. The head coach decided to give a rest to the captain for saving her for the matches of the Champions league Play Off`s.
Natalya Mammadova has been injured her shoulder and plays with the pain all the matches. Her absence was also good chance for the coach to experiment the squad.
Rabita Baku started with powerful attacks of Sanja Starovic and Mira Golubovic and led the first technical time out 8-3. Lokomotiv tried to equal the score but incredible Mira Golubovic and Olga Ativi crushed the opponents. 25-14
The second set Lokomotiv started with the other setter Elena Keldibekova from the Peruvian NT which affected very good in the game of Loko. Nancy Metcalf and Kremena Kamenova joined Kseniya Kovalenko in attacks while Kristin Richards and Nicole Davis were doing great on the back line. 25-13 and Loko equalled the sets score. 1-1
But Rabita did not want to have the same result as in the first round and began the third set with all the power in every part of the court. Silvija Popovic and Kimberly Glass kept the reception on a high level which gave the chance to the experienced setter Zhukova to play fastly game with Mira Golubovic and Natasa Krsmanovic. Sanja Starovic was nailing the balls in a row on in the court of the opponents. At the end of the set Croatian Marina Miletic and her NT parthner substituted Olga Ativi and Natasa Krasmanovic respectively. Miletic was great on attacks and scored 5 points at the last part of the 3rd set. 25-17 and Rabita led th set score 2-1.
The 4th set could be the last for Rabita to win and Loko to lose the match.... So,Rabita did its best to close the match while Loko went all out to keep them in the match. Magnificent Mira Golubovic and Sanja Starovic led Rabita and they were very close to finish the match in the 4th set. But Lokomotiv went ahead scoring 5 points in a row from 15-18 to 20-18. Lokomotiv was very good at attacks with American Nancy Metcalf and Azeri middle-blocker Kseniya Poznyak-Kovalenko but Rabita caught the opponents at 22-22. The match was going on with mutual points but Rabita`s spiking hand Sanja Starovic closed the match. 27-25
The best players of the match were: Mira Golubovic (Rabita) and Elena Keldibekova (Lokomotiv).

“Lokomotiv” - “Rabitə” - 1:3 (14:25, 25:13, 17:25, 25:27)

Lokomotiv: Smak (Keldibekova), Metcalf, Richards, Kamenova (Mammadyarova), Parkhomenko (Klimovich), Kovalenko-Poznyak, Davis (L)

Rabita: Zhukova (Nenova), Starovic, Ativi (Miletic) , Glass (Doganjic), Golubovic, Krsmanovic (Delic), Popovic (L)

Igtisadchi 14 (6-2) (20 - 8)
Azerrail 14 (6-2) (19 - 8)
Lokomotiv 11 (3-5) (12 - 18 )
VC Baku 10 (2-6) (8 - 18)
VC Shirvan 9 (1-7) (4 - 23 )