Azerrail was missing Polina Rahimova and libero Valeriya Korotenko, two key players regularly included in the starting six, while Rabita lined up also its Croatian star Natasa Osmokrovic.
This game was a good test for both sides some days before the start of the 1/8 finals in the 2012 CEV Volleyball Champions League as they both long for advancing to the final four that will take place in late March in the capital city of Azerbaijan.
Having edged Azerrail in the finals of last year’s championship, Rabita did not concede any revenge and scored a speedy 3:0 win (25-14, 25-21, 25-20) with a great show being contributed by libero Silvija Popovic and middle blocker Dobriana Rabadzhieva.
Azerrail could keep the balance only in the second set via the help of Italy’s Sara Anzanello and Belarusian Aksana Kovalchuk.
“It was a good and easy match for us but I think and hope that both teams will display their best Volleyball when it comes to the final four of the Champions League” says Rabita BAKU and Serbian-born opposite Sanja Starovic.