Rabita,Igtisadchi and Azerrail - trio of leaders.

After the matches of the IX leg leaders of the Azeri Superleague did not change. All the three teams of the first position Rabita,Igtisadchi and Azerrail outclassed the opponents in straight sets.

17 February 2011 IX leg

“Şirvan” - “İqtisadçı” - 0:3 (20:25, 17:25, 6:25)

MVP: Kelly Wing (Igtisadchi)


“Bakı” - “Rabitə” - 0:3 (18:25, 18:25, 14:25)

MVP: Irina Zhukova (Rabita)

“Lokomotiv” - “Azərreyl” - 0:3 (13:25, 12:25, 22:25)

MVP: Tomkom Nootsara (Azerrail)

1	Rabitə	9	7	2	23-8	16
2	İqtisadçı	9	7	2	23-8	16
3	Azərreyl	9	7	2	22-8	16
4	Lokomotiv	9	3	6	12-21	12
5	Bakı	9	2	7	8-21	11
6	Şirvan	9	1	8	4-26	10

Oksana Parkhomenko: "Best Setter" Award. Turkish League Final

Neslihan Darnel: " I love Azerbaijan and why not to play there?"

The best player of the Turkish volleyball history Neslihan Darnel gave an interview to the Azeri magazine "Bizim Futbol" in December 2010.

Some thoughts by Neslihan Darnel about Azerbaijan and its volleyball: " Azerbaijan is a country which I love and know so much things about. We had met Azeri National team many times. I can say you have very strong National team. Our teams are rather like each other. Even our game style is very similar. But I think we did great progress the last year. This season we got much stronger and entered the list of the strongest teams." noted Neslihan Darnel.
" Now I can not compare Azeri and Turkish leagues. Because Azeri league has been improved a lot recently. But I know it is reality that many star players who have great career in their National teams, choose Azerbaijan to play and it is very good to improve the level of the league. As many good clubs you have as stronger your league is. I have never got an offer from Azerbaijan,but I am supporter to play in Azerbaijan which is very close country for me. Why not? It would be pleasure for me, too. I have played in very strong teams and want to continue my career in that way."

IX leg matches tomorrow LIVE by "Idman Azerbaycan " TV

The IX round of the Azeri Super league will start at 14:00 with the match Shrivan versus Igtisadchi.

17 Februrary 2011

14:00. “Şirvan” - “İqtisadçı”
First match: “İqtisadçı” – “Şirvan” – 3:1 (25:14, 24:26, 25:22, 25:15)

16:00. “Bakı” - “Rabitə”
First match: “Rabitə” – “Bakı” – 3:0 (25:20, 25:19, 25:17)

18:00. “Lokomotiv” - “Azərreyl”
First match: “Azərreyl” – “Lokomotiv” – 3:0 (28:26, 25:13, 27:25)

1	Rabitə	8	6	2	20-8	14
2	İqtisadçı	8	6	2	20-8	14
3	Azərreyl	8	6	2	19-8	14
4	Lokomotiv	8	3	5	12-18	11
5	Bakı	8	2	6	8-18	10
6	Şirvan	8	1	7	4-23	9

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 )

Bojana Doganjic: The Spirit Leader of Rabita Baku

Matches of the 8th leg of the Azeri Super league today LIVE on " Idman Azerbaycan" TV.

The Azerbaijani Super league which had a break of two weeks will restored with the matches of the VIII leg, today in the Sarhadchi Olympic Centre. All the matches will be broadcasted by "Idman Azerbaycan" TV!

• 15:00
  VOLEYBOL. AZƏRBAYCAN ÇEMPİONATI. "BAKI" – "İQTİSADÇI".
• 17:00
  VOLEYBOL. AZƏRBAYCAN ÇEMPİONATI. "AZƏRREYL" – "ŞİRVAN".
  
• 19:00
  VOLEYBOL. AZƏRBAYCAN ÇEMPİONATI. "LOKOMOTİV" – "RABİTƏ".