Gallery of "Azerivolley" is updated with the match Paola hibs-Azerrail Baku

The "Gallery" section of our "Azerivolley" is updated with pictures from the 2010-11 GM Challenge Cup 1st round game Paola Hibs (Malta) - Azerrail. Photos courtesy of Paola Hibs club.


Link to the gallery: http://www.azerivolley.com/gallery/2010PaolaAzerrail.php

"Bakı" VC adds two new players

VC Baku is working its way toward putting together a formidable roster for the new season. Recently, the team has added two more new players to its ranks.

Bulgarian opposite hitter Polina Stoyneva, 21, is not a novice in the Azerbaijan Superleague. Last season she was part of the Igtisadchi team that won bronze medals of the national championship. She is also a member of the Bulgarian national team.

Hailing from Texas, USA, Heather Kisner joins Baku as a libero. A former member of the University of Texas at Austin team, Kisner shattered Texas' 20-year-old record for single-season digs. At Baku, Kisner reunited with her former teammate Ashley Engle, who had joined the team earlier.

About Jana Matiasovska: She is wonderful!

There is something about Jana

Native of Bratislava, Jana Matiasovska moved to Azerbaijan from Russia where she was playing under legendary coach Nikolai Karpol. Now a member of Azerrail she graciously agreed to answer our questions about her life outside of volleyball.

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

Yes, I have - I played in Baku in March of this year with Uralochka at the CEV Final Four tournament. Also, in 2003 I participated with the Slovak national team at the qualification tournament for the 2004 World Championships held here in Baku.

What were your first impressions of the city and your new team?

I find the city very beautiful and interesting, there are several marvelous places I have already had a chance to explore and am looking forward to discovering many more new ones. As for my new team, I love it! I'm indeed very happy to find myself in such great environment.

What do you think about the level of competition in Azerbaijan?

I am very excited about the competition level. A lot of great players from both Azerbaijan and abroad have come here, so I expect a tough season. And a tough season is a challenge every player longs for.

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

My parents were highly supportive of me coming here and I can't thank them enough for their continuous help not only now, but throughout my whole professional career and college life.

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

How long? I made my decision before they finished their pitch!

Have you experienced a language or cultural barrier?

Fortunately I can speak Russian, so I haven't had any problems getting around. I am also trying to pick up some Azeri, so will see how that goes. As for the culture, I found it a great mixture of European and Asian traditions, yet sometimes I worry a little about causing an unconscious faux-pas.

How do you spend your free time in Baku? Do you have any favorite spots?

Free time... well, I like to explore the city and try out local foods. And then of course, I enjoy hanging out with my teammate friends, listening to music or watching a movie together, simply having a good time.

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

Anyone? I would say everyone! I'm a very eclectic person and try to take something from everyone I meet. However, people who should be credited the most are definitely my parents and couple good friends I've had luck to meet in my life.

Have you already tasted any local dishes?

Yes, I love the local cuisine!

Do you get an extra attention in public?

(laughing) Yes. I guess you don't find that many 198cm girls walking down the street every day, so my presence indeed attracts attention. So far though I have had only pleasant experiences.

Have you ever thought about what are you going to do after you retire from sport?

Yes, every day - alas you never know when is your last day. I have a degree in finance and international business, so I would like to pursue a career in this field, especially financial markets. Yet, I'm hoping to postpone this path for as long as possible!

What is currently on your iPod playlist?

Dance music, I love to dance and music always pumps me up.

What do you do when you get homesick?

I don't get homesick - my "home" is where my heart is and in it I keep everything that's dear to me.

Have you had any chance to experience Baku's nightlife?

Ha! I wish!

Baku Volley tournament.

Baku Volley Tournament will start in Baku on the 2nd of November till the 7th with 7 teams from different countries.

Last Russian Champion Zarechie-Odintsovo and legendary Uralochka Yekaterinburg of the outstanding coach Nikolay Karpol will represent Russia in these tournament. One team from Turkey-Galatasaray will take part in this event too.
Four teams of Azerbaijan will host this tournament: Rabita,Azerrail,Igtisadchi and Lokomotiv will join the struggle for the main trophy of the pre-season tournament.

Sanja Tomasevic and Lidiya Maksimenko join "Baki" VC

Azerbaijani Super League Debutant "Bakı" VC continues to strengthen the squad for next season.
The Azerbaijani National team member, 29 years old left-handed universal player Lidiya Maksimenko joint "Bakı" VC. Last season Maksimenko played in the Turkish league for Yeshilyurt. At the beginning of the season, Lidiya was very close to sign with another Turkish club, "Ereğli Belediyesi",but they could not come to an agreement at the last moment.

Date of Birth:
19 March, 1981
Height:
190cm
Spike/Block:
290cm/275cm
Position:
Opposite hitter
Current Club:
"BAKI" VC (Azerbaijan)
Clubs:
2001-02 ZDIA Zaporozhye (Ukraine)
2002-03 ZDIA Zaporozhye
2003-04 ZDIA Zaporozhye
2004-05 Azerrail
2005-06 Azerrail
2006-07 Azerrail
2007-08 Azerrail
2008-09 Azerrail
2009-10 Yesilyurt (Turkey)






Team name Tomasevic
First name Sanja
Last name Tomasevic
Age (birth date) 30 (03.06.1980)

Position Height Weight Spike Block
Universal 185 cm 73 kg 295 cm 290 cm

National Selections 36 times

Serbian 30 years old universal player (outside-hitter) Sanja Tomasevic signed with "Bakı" VC too. High level professional player will make the team quite strong, during her career she played in different leagues and the Serbian National team. She is also a new captain of her new team.

A little about Sanja Tomasevic (till 2006)

Sanja was born to Ljiljana & Milutin Tomasevic. The black haired lady has two sisters Vesna and Marija.
in 2002 she moved to the USA, and University of Washington. She said it would be good for her education, and as they had a good volleyball coach, and a other Serbian on the team. She wants to get a career in advertising. She also enjoys that subject more than business.
She played with players like the 5 foot 11 Paige Benjamin at Washington.
She would also like to play some professional Volleyball, and do a master's degree.
She has played professionally in Puerto Rico, and planned to finish her degree then play professionally after that.
The 1999 war between Nato and Serbia helped delay her arrival in the USA, but she got a additional year of eligibility.
She helped her team in the US, the Huskies go on to win the NCAA championship.
She used allot of non verbal ways for communication the Carribean as of language differences, which her communications degree helped in.
She did not play for her Medical Secondary School in Uzice, at Volleyball in Yugoslavia, but played for Radnicki for 2 seasons, and for 4 with Jedinstvo who won the Yugoslav league championships on a couple of occasions, and Radnicki took one too. She was also in the Yugoslav Junior National side, and earned a Most Vavluable Player awardat the Yugoslav championship in 2001.
In 2002 as a freshman she got a Pac-10 mention, was in 31 matches, got 30 starts, and rated in the whole league as 7th best in kills, 9th in digs, 7th for points.
And did some good blocks too.
2003 saw her as a AVCA 2nd team All-American, and All-Pacific 1st teamer, and Pac-10 All-Conference 1st team side representative. She began 31 matches, was co-captain of the team, and set a school 1 season best by with 58 aces & 1411 attacks. Her kill tally hit 2nd for the whol Husky history, and she was rated 3rd for kills per game, and 4th in fourth in points per game, she got 9 blocks V UCLA, and got 32 kills V UCLA ain 1 game.
2004 saw Sanja in the Academic All-District VIII University Division 1st team. She was in 20 starts, missing many games via a broken hand. She led her team in many many categories, then became the 11th Husky to have 1,000 career kills, she eventually rated third with 1318.
In 2005 she was named Asics National Player of the Year and CVU.com National Player of the Year, and she was in the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team, was a AVCA first team All-American, and rated 4th in league kills & pts, 5th in hitting percent, & 9th for in blocks
She has the college record with kills of 1,795, and aces of 156 & pts 2,159.5. 1 of 3 Huskies to get 1,000 kills & 1,000 digs.
2006 saw her playing for the same team as the Dominican Republic's star volleyballer Annerys Vargas, at Bayamon Cowgirls, where at times both got 16 Pts in the same game. The team are called the Vaqueras de Bayamón in Spanish.


Sanja Tomasevic #21 (Captain of "Washington" with the trophy at the end)



Note: Yesterday both of these players played their second match for the team against Azerrail Baku. They were defeated 1-3 (21-25: 24-26: 20-25: 25:53). In the first match "Bakı" VC surprisingly,but with a very good team-game defeated strong Lokomotiv in four sets.

Nostalgia: Natalya MAMMADOVA in Spain. Icaro Palma.

Final of the Spanish Superleague 2007/08. Natalya Mammadova in Icaro Palma.

Angie McGinnis: Choice Azerrail-is a step forward in my career.

The USA National team member,setter Angie McGinnis talked to www.azerisport.com about her choice.

Have you thought a lot about the offer from Azerail?

- No,I have not. I accepted this offer with great pleasure. I talked to the girls in my last team,the friends in Azerbaijan before arriving in Baku. I know Azerrail has authority in the European Arena and it has very big ambitions.My new team pretends to the best goals for next year.

What do you think?: Is this choice a step forward in your opinion?

- Yes, I believe that the way it is.I have very nice memories of "Igtisadchi", where I won my first award in Azerbaijan and I feel that joining "Azerraill" will be great milestone in my career.

And how do you assess the chances of your team in the Challenge Cup?


While it is difficult to say, but we will try to go as far as possible . Naturally, in a game with "Paola" we have not shown even fifty percent of our capacity, so I think we have enough power to win this cup. Time will show.



Have you managed to make friendship with your new team-mates?

Sometimes I face with the problem of language barrier, but in general with all the partners on the team I have excellent relationship. As for English, our Slovak player Matiasovska and Brazilian Elisangela speak fluent,that`s why I do not feel any discomfort talking to them.

You probably know that "Azerrail" season will be special because the team failed to win medals, the Super League?


Yes, I understand perfectly. We are all here to do one thing, namely to help the club to finish the season successfully both on the domestic and the International arena. We continue trainings and do our best to show great performance in next matches.

Galatasaray and Uralochka come to Baku.

Russian Legend Uralochka Yekaterinburg and Turkish Galatasaray will come to Baku to take a part in the pre-season tournament.
Azeri teams,Rabita,Azerrail,Igtisadchi and Lokomotiv will be other participants on this friendly club tournament.
Matches will be played at the end of October.