Baku wants to host "FINAL FOUR" of the Champions League.

The capital of Azerbaijan,Baku can host the "Final Four" of the CEV Champions league for 2010/11 season.
Rabita Baku which represents Azerbaijan in the most popular European clubs tournament pretends to organize this important event in its city.

Azerrail and Igtisadchi join Lokomotiv in the next round of the GM Challenge Cup

Following Lokomotiv's footsteps, Azerrail and Igtisadchi advanced to the next round of the GM Challenge Cup after defeating Greek Markopoulo Revoil and Austrian Sparkasse Klagenfurt, respectively, in return matches of the second qualification round.

Azerrail earned the victory with set scores of 25:12, 25:20 and 25-15 while Lokomotiv picked up the win over Austrians with set scores of 25:9, 25:19 and 25:22. Azerrail and Igtisadchi won first games last week with a similar 3:0 scoreline.

The next opponents for Azerbaijani clubs will be determined by drawing of lots later this week.

Great Moments:Lokomotiv - Omichka. Extended highlights

Lokomotiv downs Omichka 4-0!!! GREAT match!

In front of a full house of about 3,000 fans at the Sarhadchi Sports Arena, Lokomotiv Baku defeated tough Russian Omichka team in straight sets 3:0 (25:16, 25:23, 26:24) and won the "golden set" 16:14 to advance to the next round of the GM Challenge Cup.

In the opening set, Lokomotiv forged ahead 8:7 and kept Omichka at bay, extending the lead to 16:13. Out of the second technical timeout hosts went on a 9:3 run to win the set, 25:16.

Lokomotiv came out strong again in the second set to claim an early 8:4 advantage. Host team pushed the margin to its widest at the 12:6 mark with Yelena Parkhomenko`s powerful attacks and Kseniya Kovalenko`s killing blocks before Omichka exploded with a 9:3 run to erase the deficit and then take an 18:17 lead with an amazing game of Bulgarian Eva Yaneva. Down by one point at 21:22, Lokomotiv responded with a 4:1 run of its own to snatch the set 25:23.

In the third set, teams went neck-to-neck all the way to 11:11, before Lokomotiv took what seemed like a comfortable 17:12 lead. Immediately, Omichka fueled a 7:0 run with a block and series of kills to push the tally to 17:19. Trailing 22:23, Lokomotiv answered with two-straight points. A successful attack by Russians evened the set at 24 before Lokomotiv connected on back-to-back kills to end the match 26:24 and tie the series 1:1.

Even though after two games Lokomotiv had a better set ratio, under new CEV regulations, in case of a tie (1 match won, 1 match lost), irrespective of sets ratio, teams now had to play one extra set, called"golden set" to determine the winner.

Going into the decisive "golden set", Lokomotiv dug itself a massive 2:6 hole early on. Several minutes later the situation turned dire as Russian team extended the lead to five points, 5:10. With Oksana Mammadyarova`s services and brilliance performance by Nancy Metcalf Lokomotiv, however, had no intentions of "going gently into that good night", as the team mounted a comeback of epic proportions to tie the game at 12, and then take a 14:12 lead. With their backs against the wall, Omichka saved two match points to level the set at 14, but it was Lokomotiv that finished the set and the match 16:14, sending the jubilant crowd in the stands into absolute frenzy.

Hero of the match was:

Martina Guiggi: Move to Azerbaijan? Why not!

Last time Martina Guiggi was in Azerbaijan, it was back in 2006. Four years later she is back in Baku, but this time she is here as the captain of the 3-time Italian champions. But even with her status as one of the top players in European volleyball, she is the definition of graciousness.

Martina, it is been four years since your last visit to Baku. What are the biggest changes you have noticed?

Things have certainly changed a lot since my last visit. Baku looks magnificent, and I enjoyed roaming streets at nights. It wasn’t this beautiful four years ago. And the way everything lights up at night really sets up a romantic mood. I heard the city has a lot of other big projects coming, so I can only imagine how beautifully the city will look in the future. It is going to be the second Dubai.

This is your second visit to Baku with Scavolini, but this time you are here as the team captain. So your career seems to be on a good track...

First time we were here for the game against Azerrail. And as it happens, this time I'm here as the team captain of Scavolini. So I guess I’m on a good track careerwise (smiling).

This must be a tough job, to be the captain of the Italian champions.

It is true. This job comes with a huge responsibility. I'm still a young player, but I work hard to perform captain's duties the best I can. Also, this is my seventh season with Scavolini and it also means something.

Why are you still with Scavolini after so many years?

The main reason is because things are really getting better every year at Scavolini. From the first day I joined Scavolini, I felt the desire at the club to improve and to become the best; and it is evident that we have achieved a lot over these years. Plus, the city of Pesaro is very beautiful and I have gotten used to it. But I won't deny that as time passes by I get the feeling that I want changes.

You also achieved a lot with the Italian national team. Why haven't we seen you this year at the World Championship?

Unfortunately, I could not go to Japan because of the injury that has been bothering me for a long time now. It would have been very unprofessional of me to join the national team unfit and taking someone else's spot in the team. So, the coaching staff and I decided that I should have concentrated on recovery, so I could be helpful for my club. But of course, I would love to return to the national team one day. Being a part of the national team is a special feeling.

You have come to Azerbaijan to play against national champions Rabita. Did you have any prior information about the opponent?

We knew that Rabita has added many top level players to its roster. We watched videos of Rabita's games and we knew that we have a very tough game ahead of us. Rabita has great players like Mammadova, Glass, Zhukova and several very good Serbian players.

Why do you think you lost the game against Rabita?

I think the main reason is the great game that Rabita displayed. Plus we were playing without one of our key players, Destinee Hooker. But I have to admit, we just could not read Rabita’s attacks. It was a very fast game and the way Rabita was using high and low balls was completely messing up our concentration. It is really very tough to defend against such a great offense.

Do you know any Azerbaijani volleyball players?

As I mentioned earlier, Natalya Mammadova is a top class player. Her style reminds me of Russian Gamova. I also know Oksana Parkhomenko from Dinamo Moscow and her sister Yelena, who used to play for the Italian team Megius Padova, and I also know Korotenko, the libero. I also heard that you have a young player who everyone calls "the second Mammadova." She must be really good (smiling).

And do you know anything about Azerbaijani championship?

I know that there have been a lot of changes in Azerbaijan in terms of volleyball. Your clubs has attracted world-class players and we really amazed at that. The volleyball has now gone up to the completely new level here.

If you were to receive an offer from Azerbaijan, would you accept it?

Well, never say never! And why should I decline the offer anyway? A new offer also means new perspectives. The championship here is very comfortable – all games are played in the same city at the same sports hall. It is very convenient for both athletes and fans. And from what I heard, the compensation is also pretty good. As I said, I was part of the Scavolini team for seven years now, and I think it may be the time for some changes. This could be my last season in Italy.

Why is it that only this season Italian players has started to move abroad to play outside of Italy?

Now countries like Azerbaijan, Russia and others offer very good contracts and it didn't escape the attention of players in the Italian league. For someone who played in Italy it might be difficult to move away, but at the same time, one can also gain a lot of experience playing abroad.

Do you have best friends among volleyball players?

I try to be very friendly with all my teammates because we all work for the common goal and it is necessary to have a good atmosphere in the team to achieve that. But of course, there are players with whom I have close relationships – it is Francesca Ferretti at Scavolini and Giulia Rondon in the national team. I enjoy spending time with them and they are great people with big heart.

Martina, you have lots of fans from around the world who admire your talent, name you as their favorite player and even put your photos as an avatar! Is there anything you wanted to tell them?

Really? I didn't know that! But I want to tell my fans that I love them all and I will do everything I can to make them proud. It is very important for an athlete to know that there are people who support you. This way you not only enjoy your game more, but you also bring joy to people who cheer for you. So, I want to say again that I love you all!

Kathleen Weiss: When I arrived in Baku and saw the class of the team,I was pleasantly surprised.

"Igtisadchi" started winning streak in the Azerbaijani Super League. Losing in the first match to Rabita, the team beat Lokomotiv (3:0) and" VC Baki "(3:1), which enabled them to be at the top of the table. One of the players that determine the actions of the team is Kathleen Weiss, who is a very famous player and is among the best setters of the World volleyball. About the victory over the "VC Baki" in the third round, the relationship with his partner and the level of the national championship Weiss told the correspondent of azerisport.com.

Kathleen, in spite of the victory over the Capitals, it seems to be that it was not easy for your team in this match ?

- Yes, we started well, but then "Baki" won the third set, taking advantage of our mistakes in defense. The fourth period was pretty nervous because we lost a difference of five goals, but managed to pull ourselves together and did our best to come back in the match. The faults of the opponents at reception helped us and as a result we have achieved the required victory.

After this victory "Igtisadchi" came in the second place and began chasing the leaders?

-I think that the team started very well. Two wins in three hard matches - a very good result, especially considering that in each match, the club is playing an increasingly confident. But, of course, there is still work to do.

And as a member of "Igtisadchi" what do you think about your new team?

-Initially, it was not easy to have good communication with the partners, since I joined the team later because of the World Championships where I played for the German National team. Frankly, I vaguely imagined a new team, but I knew that "Igtisadchi" was a bronze medalist of the Super league last season. Well, when arrived in Baku and met my partners and saw the class of the team I was pleasantly surprised.

You are a rather demanded player in the European volleyball. How much the offer from Azerbaijan was unexpected for you and why did you choose this country?

-Even last season I heard that Azerbaijan creates a Superleague with good teams. Besides, I really wanted to play in European competition, and "Igtisadchi provides such an opportunity. As you know, we are close to qualifying to the third round of the Challenge Cup.

And what are the first impressions of the Superleague?

-It totally justifies my expectations. There are great teams like Rabita and Azerrail, and the other very strong teams. "Igtisadchi" on the rights of the last championship bronze medalist faces great challenges and we also try to do our best to have more success. Considering how volleyball develops in Azerbaijan, as well as the number of top class players from different countries, I think that the primacy of Azerbaijan will get stronger from year to year.

"Igtisadchi" - is quite an international team, which consists of the players not only from Europe but also from Latin America. In what language do you communicate?

-Interesting question. We are really an International team, because we have players from Venezuela, Argentina, USA, Japan, Spain and many other countries. So we have a mixed of Italian, English, Spanish, some German. Bit of everything.

Igtisadchi beats Baki in four, Azerrail beats Shirvan in three sets

The Azerbaijani Superleague action resumed today with two games of the third round. In the opening match of the day, Igtisadchi defeated Baki in four sets and later Azerrail overpowered Shirvan in three.

Igtisadchi took the first two sets of the match, 25:21 and 25:19, before Baki avoided a sweep by rallying to take the third set 25:18. While Baki tried to build on the momentum in the fourth set, Igtisadchi earned the victory by taking the set, 25:16. Kathleen Weiss was the MVP of the match.

Meanwhile, Azerrail earned the 3:0 victory over Shirvan with set scores of 25:20, 25:12 and 25:16 to take the provisional number one spot in the championship. The best players were Polina Rahimova from Azerrail and Alina Aliyeva from VC SHIRVAN.

At the same time, the third round game between Rabita and Lokomotiv was postponed to a later date due to a busy European cups schedule of both teams.

Azerbaijani Superleague. III Round

Igtisadchi - Baki 3:1 (25:21, 25:19, 18:25, 25:16)
Azerrail - Shirvan 3:0 (25:20, 25:12, 25:16)
Rabita - Lokomotiv postponed

3rd leg of the Super league starts today. LIVE by "Idman Azerbaycan TV"

The third leg of the Azeri Super league starts today with the match Igtisadchi- "VC BAKI".
After this match Azerrail Baku will test the debutant of the Super league "VC SHIRVAN ". The last match of this phase Rabita-Lokomotiv will be played on the December 28 due to participating both of the teams in the European Cups.

15:00 Igtisadchi Baku - VC BAKI
17:00 Azerrail Baku - VC SHIRVAN