Igtisadchi of Jan De Brandt demolishes Rabita , Azerrail takes leadership, Loko takes revenge!!!

Yesterday the second round of the Azerbaijani Super league started with the match Azerrail - VC Baki.
Azerrail started match without its captain Natalia Hanikoglu who injuried her shoulder in one of previous matches. Jana Matiasovksa replaced her for this match. American setter Ashley Engle came back to Baku and played this match. Before we informed you she signed with Pesaro from Italy but came back to Azerbaijan.
Polina Rahimova and Sarai Alvarez started match with mutual strong attacks. Baki was very close to end the first set for its favour,but substitution Peretiatko-Nootsara helped Azerrail. With very accurate sets to Polina Rahimova by Nootsara, Azerrail closed the first set 25-21 from 19-21.
Azerrail played cosily and won the following sets 25-17: 25-15.
The best player of the match were: Tomkom Nootsara (Azerrail) and Michalea Manzoni (Baki).

Azerrail - VC BAKI 3:0 (25:21, 25:17, 25:15)

Azerrail: Peretiatko (Nootsara), Rahimova, Matiasovska,Pereira, Joines-Tamas,Petkova, Korotenko (l)

VC BAKI: Mojica (Engle), Acea Cabrera,Maksimenko,Alvarez, Manzoni, Oquendo,Kisner (l)


The second match of the day was one of the most interesting matches of the season. Rabita faced Igtisadchi which was looking forward to take revenge for the defeat in the first round. We have to say, Jan De Brandt did great job with the World Stars` team Igtisadchi Baku. He made qualitative changes in the game of the team. The agent Tunc Afshar brought the best players of their positions,but till now there was a Star Chaos in the team. But yesterday`s match showed once again-Jan De Brandt is a coach of GREAT teams.
Igtisadchi Baku started with very effective game on the back side,neutralizing attacks of strong spiker of Rabita. Yuko Sano played super matchs from the beginning till the end of the match. All of the players did the best to achieve the wished result. The first technical time out was 8-4 for Igtisadchi.Rabita played mostly from Natalya Mammadova and could equal and then dominate the score, 23-21. But Igtisadchi did not want to give up and with Tayyiba Haneef and Alice Blom perfect game in the front and Japanese miracle Sano and Finnish captain Lehtonen`s game in the back line outruned Rabita scoring 3 points in a row taking score from 23-21 to 24-23. Rabita equalled the score with Mammadova`s klling attack but Igtisadchi closed the set two times blocking attacks of Rabita. 26-24.
The second set was the copy of the first one,all the players played very well,but Igtisadchi was better than Rabita only in reception as Rabita`s Kim Glass played her not the best match on the back line. Spanish middle-blocker Marisa Fernandez and her Croatian colleague also on "position" Ivana Milos, did great job both in attacks and blocks. Rabita`s coach Dejan Brdjovic replaced experienced setter Iryna Zhukova to young Nenova after losing 4 points average on score. But Igtisadchi was playing like mechanism and won this battle 25-23 and the third set 25-22.
So,Igtisadchi took its revenge for the same type of defeat in the first round.
The best players of the match were: Yuko Sano from the winners and Natalya Mammadova from the losers. But for me,the hero of the match was Jan De Brandt!!!
Rabita - Igtisadchi 0:3 (24:26, 23:25, 22:25)

Rabita:Zhukova(Nenova),Starovic,Mammadova,Glass,Golubovic,Krsmanovic,Popovic (l)
Igtisadchi: Weiss, Haneef-Park, Lehtonen,Blom,Fernandez,Milos, Sano (l)


The third match of the day was played between Shirvan and Lokomotiv Baku. The main news of the day was Natavan Gasimova`s come back. More info: Soon

“Lokomotiv” - “Şirvan” - 3:0 (25:16, 25:14, 25:23)

Lokomotiv: Smak, Metcalf,Richards,Kamenova,Kovalenko-Poznyak,Klimovich, Filipova (l)

VC SHIRVAN: Gasimova, Zamanova,Aliyeva,Habibova,Price,Karimova,Gajewska (l)

1	Azerrail	6	5	1	16-5	11
2	Rabita	6	4	2	14-7	10
3	İqtisadçı	6	4	2	14-8	10
4	Lokomotiv	6	3	3	11-12	9
5	Bakı	6	1	5	5-15	7
6	Şirvan	6	1	5	4-17	7

Mira the Magnificent

One of the most experienced players in the Azerbaijani Superleague, Mira Golubovic is the epitome of success. With a good dozen of championship titles from five countries, she is a true inspiration for many and we are honored to have her as our next guest.

Have you had any prior information about Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani volleyball?

During my career I played lots of times against Azerbaijani clubs, so I knew very well what is the level of volleyball here, and I have to say that in the past two years there was a huge progress.

What were your first impressions of the city?

Baku changed a lot over the last few years. The city center is very beautiful with all the parks around. But Baku at night - with lights going up everywhere - is my favorite.

How did your family react when you told them that you were going to Azerbaijan?

Over the years I have played a lot abroad, so my family had already gotten used to it. And more importantly, they know that I feel very comfortable here and that is what matters for them.

How long did it take you to decide on the offer from Azerbaijan?

After I played for Rabita in the playoff finals last year, I saw that it is a very serious club and that the club is determined to be one of the best in Europe, so I really didn't think for long when they offered me a new contract.

How do you spend your free time in Baku?

Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of free time, but when I do, I usually like to rest with a good book or a movie. I also enjoy spending time with friends.

Is there anyone you credit for helping you to become who you are today?

First of all, it is my family for they supported me in every decision that I made. Also, in my professional career I had 28 different coaches, and I guess they all helped me become who I am today.

Have you already tasted any local dishes?

I love to eat, and I already tried a lot of different dishes. For example, kebab is just great! I am also a big fan of Italian cuisine, and I'm happy that I found a great Italian restaurant here in Baku!

Do you get an extra attention in public?

There are a lot of people in Baky who like Rabita and sometimes they greet me on the street, welcoming to the club. People are very polite and friendly here.

What do you do when you get homesick?

I don't have time to be homesick (smiling). My friends visited me here and I also talk to my family every day, and thanks to Skype we stay in touch!

Second Round of the Super league starts tomorrow. All the matches LIVE on "Idman Azerbaycan Tv".

Second round of the Azerbaijani Super league starts tomorrow,on the 18th January with the match VC Baki-Azerrail.
After this match the leader of the First Round by sets average Rabita Baku will face another candidate for the Gold medals Igtisadchi Baku which will play its first official match under leadership of the new coach Jan de Brandt.
And the last match of the day will be played between Lokomotiv and VC Shirvan. Lokomotiv looks forward to take the revenge for the defeat in the first round by Shirvan in five-set thriller match.

All the matches of the Super league will be broadcasted LIVE by Idman Azerbaycan TV.

14:00

"AZƏRREYL" - "BAKI".

* 16:00

"RABİTƏ" - "İQTİSADÇI".

18:00

"LOKOMOTİV" - "ŞİRVAN".

Who's out, who's in: Superleague roster changes

A look at mid-season changes in the Azerbaijani Superleague rosters:

Azerrail

Added: Nootsara Tomkom (Setter, Thailand)
Gone: Angie McGinnis (Setter, USA) - injury

VK Baki

Gone: Sanja Tomasevic (Outside hitter, Serbia), Ashley Engle (Setter, USA) - transferred to Scavolini Pesaro (Italy), Stacey Gordon (Outside hitter, Canada)

Igtisadchi

Added: Jan de Brandt (Head coach, Belgium)
Gone: Resat Yaziciogullari (Head coach, Turkey), Filiz Ozgur (Outside hitter, Turkey) - injury, Crystal Matich (Setter, USA) - end of contract

Lokomotiv

Added: Dragutin Baltic (Head coach, Serbia)
Gone: Aleksandr Chervyakov (Head coach, Azerbaijan), Julie Rubenstein (Outside hitter, USA) - injury

Ashley Engle leaves VC "BAKI" and joins Scavolini Pesaro. Francseca Mari left Italians.

American setter of "VC BAKI" leaft the team from capital and joint the last Italian Champion Scavolini Pesaro.
Due to some internal problems the sides decided to part the ways. Baku will play with experienced Vilmarie Mojica from the Puerto Rican National team.
The second setter of Scavolini Pesaro Francesca Mari left the team explaining that with the lack of game practise recently. She joined another team from Italian Seri A2.

Champions League Play- Off: Rabita Baku-Modranska Prostejov

First round

Scavolini Pesaro-Dinamo Moscow

Eczacıbaşı VitrA-RC Cannes

Vakıfbank GSTT- Bielsko Biala

Volero Zürich-Zarieche Odıntsovo

Rabita Baku-Modranska Prostejov

Villa Cortese -Fakro Muszyna

Note: If Rabita Baku wins then we are meeting with the winner of the pair Villa Cortese -Fakro Muszyna. INSHALLAH we will reach Final Four!!!

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

Azerrail and Igtisadchi topped Greek Olympiacos 3:0 (25:14, 25:11, 25:20) and Serbian Tent 3:0 (25:22, 25:16, 25:14), respectively, on Thursday afternoon to join Lokomotiv in the next round of the GM Challenge Cup. Both Baku teams won their first leg games a day before with a similar, 3:0, scoreline.

In the Round of 8, Azerrail will meet Ukrainian "Khimik", while Igtisadchi will square off against Romanian Stiinta.

Matches are scheduled for the first week of February.

Challenge Cup: Azerbaijan 9-0 Europe.

Lokomotiv Baku advanced to the next round of the GM Challenge Cup with a 3:0 (25:8, 25:9, 25:12) win over Austrian Linz-Steg in the second match of the Round of 16.

Their first leg match in Austria last week also ended 3:0 in favor of Lokomotiv.

In the Round of 8, Lokomotiv will face Apollon Limassol from Cyprus.

Azerrail and Igtisadchi played their first games of the GM Challenge Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday in Baku.

Igtisadchi defeated Serbian Tent 3:0 (25:15, 25:15, 25:15) and Azerrail dropped Greek Olympiacos with a similar scoreline, 3:0 (25:7, 25:15, 25:13).

Earlier, Azerrail and Igtisadchi have reached an agreement with Greek and Serbian teams to play both legs of their GM Challenge Cup Round of 16 games in Baku. The return matches will take place tomorrow on January 13.