22/10/2013 14:53
Azeryol claims nail-biting five setter with 2013 bronze medalists BUSTO ARSIZIO
2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women
Baku, Azerbaijan, October 22, 2013. In what was the very first game of this year’s League Round to be completed, Azeryol BAKU edged Unendo Yamamay BUSTO ARSIZIO of Italy 3:2 (24-26, 25-20, 25-15, 17-25, and 15-13) after a very close match with the bronze medalists from the 2013 edition of the CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League.
The match started quite well for the guests from Italy as they were helped by the many errors made by Azeryol spikers. Unendo Yamamay had the slimmest margin by the time the first technical time-out was called (7:8) but with their home heroine Polina Rahimova hitting hard and some great actions of their libero Valeriya Korotenko, Azeryol fought their way back (16:13); the head coach of Unendo Yamamay Carlo Parisi stopped the game after Azeryol had drawn level at 24 all and his players responded well pocketing the two next rallies to go for the 0:1 (24-26).
Unendo Yamamay set the pace of the game also in the early phases of the second set (7:8) but Azeryol head coach Angelo Vercesi finally found a way to stabilize the reception and offense of his side. Azeryol played with more and more confidence (16:14) and cruised to the final 25-20 to draw level in sets.
The home fans were happy with the terrific start of their heroines in set 3 (8:4) with Polina Rahimova and Chiara Di Iulio anchoring Azeryol attack and blocking. Azeryol had a comfortable lead (16:9) halfway through the set and even though Parisi substituted some of his starting players, he could not prevent Azeryol from cruising straight to the final 25-15.
Things changed in the fourth set where Unendo Yamamay got off the blocks with a very good pace (2:5, 5:8) and by the second mandatory stop their lead had increased up to nine points (7:16). Though Azeryol attempted a late comeback (12:16), they could not compensate for their bad start and the set went to Unendo Yamamay (17-25).
It was a make-or-break mission for both teams in the tie-break. Azeryol was leading 8:6 as they changed sides of the court and even though Unendo Yamamay tried up to the very end to upset the home side, Azeryol could cash the final 15-13 and two points from this victory.
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