Crystal Matich signed for two months with Igtisadchi Baku.

Igtisadchi Baku which will participate in the European "Challenge Cup" signed a two-months contract with 25 years old American setter Crystal Matich.
Crystal Matich will play till the end of the Mundial,since German National team setter of Igtisachi Baku will join the team at the end of November. Another setter,Argentine NT player Yael Castiglione was hospitalized in Turkey. She feels better now and continues training with the team.But she still can not play with her real power,that`s why the transfer of Matich was realized.

Video link for Crystal Matich:

http://vimeo.com/3397001

Azerrail wins comfortably in Malta.

Azerrail has begun its quest for the European GM Challenge Cup in style, defeating Maltese champions Paola Hibernians in three straight sets, 25:7, 25:6, 25:10.

This was the very first European cup game for the Maltese team and it was a big difference in class and experience that predetermined the outcome. "If you had to compare the strength of our opponents in football terms, Azzerail Baku can be likened with top teams like Barcelona or Milan," Hibernians coach Mark Hili said before the game.
The return game will take place on October 17 in Baku.

Video from the match:

Rabita Baku takes revenge.

The last Azeri Champion Rabita Baku,which continues preparation to the European Champions league in Istanbul,played a friendly match against Vaklifbank Gunesh Sigorta Turk Telekom.
It was the second match between the teams this season. In the first match,Rabita lost to Vakifbank GSTT in the semi-final of "Errea Cup" in four sets: 3-1
This time Rabita Baku demolished the opponent in three sets: 3-0
Rabita will be back in Azerbaijan on the 11th of October and will play control matches against Azeri clubs.
Rabita also denied offers from Italian and Poland clubs to play friendly matches.

Azerrail Baku starts the season.

The last Azerbaijan Cup Winner Azerrail Baku officially starts the season with the first match of the European "Challenge Cup" in Malta.
After camps in the Czech republic and Turkey where Azerrail showed a great performance,the team moved to Malta to face the local team "Paola Hibs" today.
Azerrail announced the squad for next season,but one or two more players can be added in the following days.

10.10.2010 / 18:00 MLT PAOLA Hibs
17.10.2010 / 18:30 AZE Azerrail BAKU

Azerrail Baku team Squad 2010/11.



• Polina RAHIMOVA( AZE) - 198 cm (1990) Outside-hitter /Opposite
• Valeriya KOROTENKO (AZE) – 171 cm (1984) Libero
• Aynur KARIMOVA (AZE) – 189 cm (1988) Middle-blocker
• Odina ALIYEVA (AZE) – 185 cm (1990) Outside-hitter
• Natalia HANIKOGLU (TUR) - 190 cm (1975) Universal
• Angie MCGINNIS (USA) – 180 cm (1986) Setter
• Elisangela PEREIRA DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) – 187 cm (1980) Outside-hitter
• Iliana PETKOVA (BUL) – 191 cm (1977) Middle-blocker
• Jennifer JOINES-TAMAS (USA)-191 cm,Middle-blocker
• Aleksandra PERETYATKO (UKR) – 184 cm (1984) Setter
• Jana MATIASOVSKA (SVK) – 195 cm (1987) Diagonal
• Aneliya PASHINA (BUL)- 178 cm (1983) Libero
• Kseniya PAVLENKO (AZE) -185 cm (1993), Diagonal

Igtisadchi crushed Eczacibashi in Istanbul.

Azerbaijani team "Igtisadchi" Baku continues preparation for the "Challenge Cup" 2010/11 season in Turkey.
After participation in "Errea Cup" where Igtisadchi finished the fourth,Igtisadchi played against Turkish Superleague team Eczacibashi in Istanbul. In the match of "Errea Cup" in Samsun, Igtisadchi lost in five sets,playing without setter (Nenova,setter of Rabita played for Igtisadchi),who had problems before the match.
This time Azeri club crushed Eczacibashi of ex-Bergamo coach Lorenzo Micelli, in three sets: 3-0
American Superstar Tayyiba Haneef joint her team and played big role in this victory. Kathleen Weiss,Yuko Sano and Alice Blom miss the camp because of participation in the World Championship.
Igtisadchi Baku will participate in the tournament of "Four teams" in Istanbul on the 9th and 10th October.

Rabita lost, Azerrail won twice.

Following a first pre-season camp in Czech Republic, Azerrail traveled to Turkey for the short second camp. The team has already held two friendly games against Turkish clubs and won both of them - 3:1 against Vakifbank Gunes and 3:0 against Besiktas. From Turkey, the team will fly to Malta for the upcoming "Challenge Cup" first round game against Paola Hibs on October 10.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Rabita played a second friendly game against Turkish national team in Istanbul. The game ended 3:1 (25:23, 25:19, 17:25, 25:22) in favor of the hosts.

Rabita Baku: Mammadova 23:Kulikova 3:Attivi 12:Starovic 8: Dyachenko 8: Golubovic 10:Nenova 2:

Turkey: Neslihan 21: Eda 13: Seda 13: Esra 5: Neriman 5: Bahar 3: Naz 7: Gozde 3:

Statistics by: Artem Borisenko (Rabita VC)- Thanks!

Azerrail Baku beats Vakifbank Gunesh Sigorta.

The Flagman of Azerbaijani volleyball Azerrail Baku continues preparation camp for the "Challenge Cup" which will start on the 10th of October.
Last Azeri Cup winners defeated one of the strongest team of Turkey Vakifbank Gunesh Sigorta which will participate in the Champions league in four sets: 3-1 (sets` score are not shown yet). Both of teams missed some players.
Azerrail Baku will play their second friendly match,today against Beshiktash which takes part in the European CEV CUP.

Update: Omelchenko signs with VC "Baku",Adnan Kistak moves to "Shirvan-Guba" VC.

Newly renamed , "Baku"VC signed a contract with the former Russian National team coach,Mikhail Omelchenko. Before that Mr. Omelchenko was a candidate for the head coach post of "Azerrail" and "Shrivan-Guba" team,but at the last moment he signed with "Baku" VC which is founded in the base of "Nagliyyatchi".
Mikhail Omelchenko worked with legendary Nikolai Karpol and won 1988 Seoul Olympic Games` Gold Medal. He also worked in the teams like Eczacibashi Turkey,Dinamo and etc.
His last work place was Dinamo Krasnodar where played Azeri Star Natalya Mammadova last season. He left his post in the middle of the season.

Note: Adnan Kistak moves to "Shirvan-Guba" where he will work with young players and prepare young talented players for the National team.