Home » CEV CL: Vakifbank is back after 3:2 win over Azerrail BAKU

CEV CL: Vakifbank is back after 3:2 win over Azerrail BAKU

by WoV
source: cev.lu

Istanbul, Turkey, December 20, 2011. After losing last week in Baku, Vakifbank TTelekom ISTANBUL got their revenge tonight at “Burhan Felek” Volleyball Hall by edging Azerrail 3:2 (21-25, 25-14, 25-23, 20-25, 15-12) to the delight of more than 2’600 home fans.

Vakifbank

Vakifbank

Azerrail caught a great start (3:8) but Vakifbank fought back to draw level at 11. The remainder of the set unfolded as a great battle that eventually ended in favor of the guests from Azerbaijan with Polina Rahimova scoring 9 points all alone. 

Vakifbank, the reigning champions from the past edition of the CEV Volleyball Champions League, stormed out to a great 8:0 lead in the second set and dominated the game all the way through; although Azerrail coach Faig Garayev opted for some of his back-up players, still Vakifbank did not stop its march for the final 25-14. 

The score stayed balanced in set 3 up to 19 all, before Bahar Toksoy scored the next two for the home side; Azerrail leveled again at 23 but an error of Rahimova handed over the set to the hosts (25-23). 

Vakifbank set the pace also in the fourth set (11:8) but Garayev got his side back on track after asking a time-out; ISTANBUL tried to claw back but Azerrail called for the tie-break. The guests got a provisional leadership in the deciding set (3:5) but Vakifbank was already up as teams changed sides (8:7). Azerrail turned the score around (8:11) but Jelena Nikolic helped her side move to the front (13:12); after a time-out asked by Garayev, Rahimova failed to score and another error, this time of Oksana Parkhomenko, put an end to the fight (15-12) for the joy of the home fans.

Rahimova top scored in the match with 24 points.

We had many problems in reception today and it was not easy to find a way through the block of Vakifbank. They have got very experienced players and we eventually lost the match” states Azerrail captain Parkhomenko

Our block and defense worked well tonight; we managed to stop Rahimova but we still have many problems to deal with for the remainder of the season. Our team is not that talented but we have a great fighting spirit and with this we can will all games” says home head coach Giovanni Guidetti.

I can say that Vakifbank is back after this game. If we play like we did tonight, we can defeat any team in the world” proudly states captain Gözde Kirdar Sonsirma.

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