Azerbaijan’s national female volleyball team has secured a permit to the upcoming world championship in Japan next year, following a 3:0 victory over Czech volleyball players in the second round of an elimination contest in Russia.
Meanwhile, the third victory of the national team was crucial from both rating and psychological viewpoints. Azeris faced the national team of Russia, a silver medalist of the 2004 Olympics in Athens. After losing the first game 20:25, the national team of Azerbaijan has quickly bounced back and left no chances for Russians in other games.
The second game was the first triumph over Russians, mainly thanks to a stable and self-sacrificing performance of libero B. Korotenko, and defensive offensive by Natalya Mammadova. After the second game that ended with a score 25:18 in favor of Azerbaijan’s team, the Russians showed a fierce resistance in the third game, but to no avail вЂ" Azeri female volleyball players have broken down the opposition of their Russian rivals, and won 25 to 22.
The fourth game was a high-class performance of the national team of Azerbaijan. It was close to volleyball miracle, when the national team has led in the score with 10 again 0. It seemed that Azeri volleyball players had summoned up Dutch courage вЂ" the game ended 25 to 11.
All in all, the national team of Azerbaijan has won all three games in the elimination contest, and taken a very important lead over the Russian team (with 5 points) and Bulgarians.
The last trial for the Azeri team вЂ" in the run up to the world championship вЂ" is the final round of the European championship this year.