IL`AZERO: 04/29/11

29 апр. 2011 г.

Conductor Zhukova`s Rabita walks over Azerrail. Lokomotiv wins the thriller

The second Final Four Round took place in Masally city came to its end with a couple of very interesting matches.

The first match of the day could make Lokomotiv as a real outsider in the case they lose, so the team of Dragutin Baltic was ready to any scenario in the match against Igtisadchi of Jan de Brandt.

Amazing Nancy Metcalf and Nicole Davis`s Lokomotiv showed example of braveness winning this thriller in 5 sets. Finnish star Riikka Lehtonen and Japanese "A-Bomb" Yuko Sano did great job their team to win but Lokomotiv girls were very ambitious for result of this match.

The second match of the day and the last of this mini-tournament in Masally made Rabita closer to the title as the last two years` champions were leading the ranking and this victory strengthened their advantage on the Championship way.

Legendary setter Iryna Zhukova made her team play like an orchestra. Serbian "Azeri" beauty Sanja Starovic and outside hitters Mammadova ws Glass were supported by super middle-blockers Golubovic and Krsmanovic, and incredible libero Popovic to close the tournament on major notes.Azerrail had enough hard moments at reception as the main libero of the squad Valeriya Korotenko has got an injury and will not be able to play for three months.

29 April

14.00. “Lokomotiv” - “İqtisadçı” - 3:2 (25:16, 23:25, 25:19; 16:25, 15:13)

Final round results

“İqtisadçı” – “Lokomotiv”- 3:1 (20:25, 25:15, 27:25, 25:23)

Regular season results

“Lokomotiv” – “İqtisadçı” – 0:3 (23:25, 18:25, 23:25)

“İqtisadçı” - “Lokomotiv” – 3:0 (25:23, 25:17, 25:18)

MVP: Nancy Metcalf

Statistics: http://sbvolley.ru/files/docs/2011/2011-aze-final-06-02.pdf

16.00. “Rabitə” - “Azərreyl” - 3:1 (23:25, 25:14, 25:12, 25:10)

Final round results

“Azərreyl” – “Rabitə” - 2:3 (17:25, 16:25, 25:22, 25:20; 14:16)

Regular season results

“Azərreyl” – “Rabitə” – 1:3 (25:22, 19:25, 22:25, 22:25)

“Rabitə” - “Azərreyl” – 3:0 (25:23, 25:20, 25:14)

MVP: Iryna Zhukova

Statistics:

http://sbvolley.ru/files/docs/2011/2011-aze-final-06-011.pdf

Rabitə	6	5	1	17-9	11
Azərreyl	6	3	3	13-11	9
İqtisadçı	6	2	4	12-14	8
Lokomotiv	6	2	4	8-16	8

Mammadova against Marisa Fernandez show. Azerrail destroys Lokomotiv

The second day of the Azeri Superleague Final Four in Masally city ended with a great match between Rabita and Igtisadchi that clearified who would be the leader of the ranking.

The first match played between Lokomotiv and Azerrail ended with a quite easy victory by Azerrail in three sets. Young Azeri libero, 18 years old Oksana Kiselyova replaced Valeriya Korotenko who has healthy problems on a high level showing amazing performance both at defence and reception. Another rising star of Azeri volleyball 20 years old Polina Rahimova scored 28 points (67 %) in three sets and once again became the MVP of the match.

The central match of the day played after this match would clearify the leader of the ranking, as Rabita`s defeat could make all the three teams have the same points.

Rabita started match quite well scoring 4 points in a row (4-0) but Igtisadchi overcame the opponents till the first technical time-out (6-8). Spansih middle-blocker Marisa Fernandez (21 points, 67%) scored points as a main attacker and blocker of Igtisadchi showing hardly the best game of her career. Rabita did great come back losing 20-24. Natalya Mammadova with two aces and attack points equalled the score and Kimberly Glass that replaced Olga Ativi at the end and closed the set. 26-24.

The following two sets also began with the same scenario but amazing Marisa Fernandez and Yuko Sano did great job for their team to lead in set score 2-1.

The fourth set could be the last for Rabita. Igtisadchi was leading 21-18 at the end of the set and was very close to finish the match on a major note,but Rabita`s Mammadova and Kimberly Glass who replaced Sanja Starovic won the set fro Rabita. Serbian middle blocker Natasa Krsmanovic was the best blocker of the court competing against incredible Marisa Fernandez.

The tie-break was the only set that began by Igtisadchi`s three points advantage,but Rabita was not going to give up as this loss could make their situation worse than they excepted,so incredible Natalya Mammadova and powerful Olga Ativi came back after 8-11 and equalled the score. But Igtisadchi Baku did not give up till the end either cancelling two match points of the rivals 14-14. The match was very interesting and the people of Masally enjoyed this match but everyone was wondering when the match would be ended. At last Kimberly Glass scored a point from attack and earned another match point for her team. Natalya Mammadova closed the match spiking from the 4th zone.

29 April

“Lokomotiv” – “Azərreyl” - 0:3 (16:25; 22:25; 20:25)
Final round results
“Lokomotiv” – “Azərreyl” - 1:3 (25:18, 19:25, 21:25; 15:25)

Regular season results

“Azərreyl” – “Lokomotiv” – 3:0 (28:26, 25:13, 27:25)
“Lokomotiv” - “Azərreyl” - 0:3 (13:25, 12:25, 22:25)

MVP: Polina Rahimova