Iryna ZHUKOVA: The LEGEND is back!!!

According to Bojana

If someone told me four years ago that I would be playing for this long in Azerbaijan, I wouldn't have believed them. But the paths in our lives can be so much different from what we initially expect.

In the beginning, I was a skeptic. The Azeri volleyball league was totally foreign to me. I knew a lot about the National team of Azerbaijan, and about VC Azerrail, the team we played against earlier in the Champions League, but that was about it.

I spoke to my good friend Sanja Starovic, who had been in Baku for a month already. She told me that she was satisfied there, and knowing that really made my decision to come here much easier. Throughout the last three years of my stay in Baku, the level of the national league has risen tremendously. I have witnessed major changes within the clubs and in the organization of the league. The success of the clubs, especially Rabita, in European competitions, have enticed many excellent foreign players to come to Baku. People from all over the world are here. The league boasts a variety of nationalities from Bulgaria, America, Ukraine, Croatia, Thailand, Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Puerto Rico... and of course Serbia! :-)) This array of diversity is something that makes volleyball much better and more interesting. With such strong reinforcement from all around the world, Rabita has managed to keep the leading position, which makes me very happy and proud.

Season 2008/09, was the first step towards making the best results in the history of my club on the European stage. We started playing well in the Challenge Cup. In the next season, 2009/10, we finished third in the Final Four of the CEV cup, which we played in Baku. This season we are playing in the Champions League, while, at the same time, competing in the very strong Azeri League. As we all know, it is always everyone's goal to win against the champions, so it is not easy for us! :-)) That's why management of the club made a team of 13 players, where each player can help the team, while competing at a very high level. VC Rabita has always tried to keep the core of the team that functions well together, and build it up with more experienced players. Also, the important thing for the club was that girls have good character, which makes our everyday hard work much easier.

Besides, the little free time that we have, we spend together discovering some new and pretty places in the city. This year, we have been very lucky, because each free day that we've had was sunny and beautiful. The soft climate of Baku has made us enjoy Baku even more.

Now, we are entering the final stage of this season (2010-11), and it is going to be more exciting than ever! Now the most difficult, but also the most interesting part of the competition for all of us comes. We work very hard to make the best result possible and for sure we will make a great show for all spectators! :-)

At this moment we are facing a very difficult and stressful game against BPS Fakro, a team from Poland. AS ALWAYS, we will need all possible help and support from our wonderful spectators.

To sum things up, I am very glad that I am a part of the growth and development of the Azeri league. I hope that with very careful and organized work, it will continue in its progress of making women's volleyball stronger and stronger in Azerbaijan, which will make it well known all over the world.

I know that three years ago I had some doubts about coming to Azerbaijan, but now, playing with Rabita, has given me an opportunity to fight with and against some of the best players in the world! Which is the biggest wish of every player, and only goes to show that the paths in our lives are so unpredictable, and we should not be afraid to take a challenge.

Mira Golubovic : Flying Angel ;)

Incredible Natalya Mammadova!

Kimberly Glass: In Azerbaijan, I have never felt any threat.

U.S Volleyball team Azerbaijani club Rabita`s member Kimberly Glass said that the life is quite suit in Baku.

"If you do not know anything about the place, it may seem exotic or even dangerous for you. But when I arrived in Baku, it became clear that everything is organized at the highest level, and the local people are very hospitable in Azerbaijan. There you can live a normal life. Although Azerbaijan is a Muslim country, I have never felt any threat there."

The bests of Rabita against Fakro Muszyna!!!

Yesteday, against Fakro Muszyna Rabita played an amazing game,but they can play much better with an incredible Starovic, Shining Ativi`s and hot Glass`s help to outstanding Mammadova... We hope it will happen in the home match against Fakro in Baku....
Yesterday Rabita`s setter Zhukova made the team play as an orchestra-she was the greatest conductor on the court..... Magnificent Mira Golubovic and Babyface Natasa Krsmanovic were just incredible on the court...Even with the worst reception skills two central players of Rabita showed the best game that is possible!!! Zhukova once again showed her level-she is Legendary setter - she proved that!!!
Superstar Mammadova showed her best and kept the reception of the team against the like Fakro which is one of the best Serving teams.... Mammadova played amazingly in every aspect of the game...attacking,blocking,serving...Receiving... Motivating...
Kim Glass, Olga Ativi and Sanja Starovic were not on their the best level yesterday,but its normal not to be in your own day for a player... They were good but as we wait for the best of them,we could not be satisfied with their ordinary game... They are always- Extra-Ordinary players... Come on girls- we have a macth in Baku... This is your match.!!!
A-Bomb Silvija Popovic did her - as a libero she helped the team enough..But we are waiting for more from our sweet girl...
And Thanks to our Great coach!!! He was really GREAT!!!
Team Spirit Leader Bojana Doganjic, Beautiful Mirela Delic, Dynamic Diana Nenova, Flying Marina Miletic and Bombing Lidiya Dyachenko are always ready to help the team on hard moments.... Let`s wish and pray to ALLAH not to have hard moments...
Haydı Qızlar!!! İrəli!!!
We have a home match.... INSHALLAH we will do!!!

Cold shower for MUSZYNA as Rabita BAKU claims win in straight sets

Muszyna, Poland, February 24, 2011. The sports hall located in the tiny village of Muszyna was as usual packed with the local passionate Volleyball fans who wanted to help the girls of Bank BPS Fakro in their quest for a ticket to make it to the final four of the 2011 CEV Champions League. However, Azerbaijan’s Rabita BAKU needed only one hour and a half to claim the first match of the Playoffs 6 in straight sets (25-23, 25-21, 25-19). “In my opinion some small details determined the final outcome of the match tonight, but generally speaking Rabita was the best side. However, I still believe in the chances of my team” said the head coach of Bank BPS Fakro MUSZYNA, Bogdan Serwinski.
The hosts started off pretty strong (8:5) and that looked like a good omen for MUSZYNA; Rabita stormed back and tried to close the gap, so as the margin was cut to one point, Serwinski decided to ask for a break and went for his first substitution with Klaudia Kaczorowska replacing Kinga Kasprzak. Rabita BAKU also made a change, with Olga Ativi (Tocko) for Kimberly Glass, and the Azerbaijanis could finally draw the count at 16 all. Natalya Mammadova, as the final rush of the set was approaching, took some risks and so her attacks finished sometimes off the court. After a tie at 20, Sanja Starovic scored for Rabita and BAKU went up in the score for the first time since the start of the game. Rabita changed gear and was not to stop anymore, closing the set 25-23.
BAKU opened the second set with the right confidence and consistency, forcing Serwinski into an early time-out as the score stood at 4:1 for the guests, but it did not help as Rabita was setting the pace 8:3 by the first mandatory stop. MUSZYNA clawed back with real fighting spirit and the contribution of Joanna Kaczor (11:10) but Rabita was once again ahead as the referee whistled for the second technical time-out (16:14). Bank BPS Fakro finally closed the gap at 20 all but as in the previous set Rabita played an excellent money time to stamp the final 25-21 on the scoreboard.
There is a popular adagio in Volleyball that says “if you do not win 3:0, then you end up losing 2:3”, so the third set was going to turn into the moment likely to define the final outcome of the game. The score stayed tight up to 14:14 and after that Rabita made the difference in attack, widening the gap (22:18) and finishing the job with a real missile of Kimberly Glass (25-19).
“I am satisfied with the play of my team and I have to admit that for us it was very important to take a victory here before the second match taking place in Baku. However I want to emphasize that Bank BPS Fakro is a very strong team and everything is possible in the next match” said after the game Serbian-born coach Dejan Brdjovic.
Rabita made the difference with their blocks (11 vs. 6 for MUSZYNA) as well as in attack, where their efficiency stood at 43% to compensate a reception that was not that fabulous (only 29% positive and 19% excellent). Natasha Krsmanovic and Natalya Mammadova were the top scorers tonight for BAKU with 16 and 15 points respectively. Joanna Kaczor (15) and Katarzyna Gajgal (13) stood out for Bank BPS Fakro. “We are only halfway and it is not yet over” said captain Aleksandra Jagielo. “We have been going through this scenario many times, we are being defeated but then finally we make it through. Of course Rabita is a very strong team and will be an even more difficult rival at their home but we are not going to give up that easily” she concluded.

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LP SALO fights bravely but finally Azerrail BAKU cruises past after tie-break

2011 GM Capital Challenge Cup - Women

Salo, Finland, February 24, 2011. After a marvelous run in the previous rounds of the competition with no sets lost so far, yesterday night Azerrail BAKU claimed the first round of the 4th finals in the 2011 GM Capital Challenge Cup against LP SALO of Finland but needed a tie-break to finally celebrate another win (19-25, 25-15, 24-26, 25-14, 15-9). The girls from Azerbaijan have good chances to advance to the semis as the return game will be played next week in Baku.
Belgian Virginie De Carne and Polina Rahimova, i.e. the opposite hitters of LP SALO and Azerrail BAKU, were the main stars of the night, scoring a massive haul of 36 and 26 points respectively. De Carne was very proud of the effort displayed by her team: “This was a great game and the Finnish fans had tonight the chance to see some great Volleyball actions. I am quite happy with my performance but obviously not much with the final outcome of the game. We fought bravely and you shall not forget that in Finland we never have the chance to play tough games as the one we went through tonight. Polina Rahimova played a good game as well: she is a young and very talented player”.
The coach of Azerrail BAKU, Vugar Aliyev, paid his tribute to LP SALO: “We worked out our tactics by focusing on De Carne. I was a bit surprised with the emotion that the girls from Finland displayed on the court. LP SALO fought very well and so I am happy that finally we were able to claim the match”.
The coach of LP SALO, Tomi Lemminkäinen, wants to diversify his options in attack for the return game: “We played some first class Volleyball in the first and third set but we did not manage to maintain that level for the whole game. Virginie De Carne played a great game and so did also our captain and outside hitter Hanna-Mari Arminen. Next week we need to diversify our range of options in attack”.

Best Scorers: Virginie De Carne (Lp Salo) 36 points- 41%:--- Polina Rahimova (Azerrail Baku) 28 points (49 %).

Azerbaijan is a major force to contend with in this year’s GM Capital Challenge Cup, as Igtisadchi and Lokomotiv BAKU are also likely to advance to the semis after they scored wins in their respective quarterfinals against Kralovo Pole BRNO and SCHWERINER SC.

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