17/12/2013 17:11
Rabita finishes prelims with perfect record after tie-break victory over Omichka
2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Women
Omsk, Russia, December 17, 2013. Azerbaijan’s Rabita BAKU completed their campaign in the prelims of the 2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women with a perfect record of six victories in as many matches after on Tuesday they beat Russian rookie Omichka OMSK REGION 3:2 (25-19, 25-22, 23-25, 19-25, and 15-11). Rabita and Omichka had already claimed their tickets to the Playoffs 12 with two rounds to go for completion of the prelims, so on Tuesday they were playing for the leadership in Pool A. Rabita in the end tops the charts with 16 points; Omichka follows in second place with 14.
Cuban Nancy Carrillo top scored in the game with 22 points but still that was not enough for Omichka to seize the day. Team captain Elena Yureva (15), Natalya Mammadova (12) and Iuliia Kutiukova (11) also finished the match in double digits for the home side. Australian Rachel Rourke paced Rabita with 17 while Katarzyna Skowronska-Dolata and Aurea Cruz added another 12 and 11 respectively to the count of last year’s silver medallists.
Omichka struggled in reception and this paved the way with gold for Rabita that claimed the first and second sets pretty easily. However, the “Cats” as the players of Omichka are known in Russia showed great resistance, claimed a very close third set, won the fourth with ease and in the end Rabita could only cruise past after more than two hours of world-class play as 4,500 fans were in attendance at the “V. Blinov” sports complex.
“It is a pity that we lost this match” said Omichka team captain Elena Yureva. “We showed a very good performance in the third and fourth sets and we hoped to continue the same way also in the tie-break. Unfortunately Rabita, a very strong team, was standing on the other side of the net and it is always difficult to keep their pace.”
“I have to congratulate both teams because we have seen a good game tonight” added the Serbian mentor of Omichka Zoran Terzic. “We wanted to win two sets so as to make the next round as one of the top six teams from the prelims. In the end we lacked concentration but we also played against a very strong team.”
“We are happy with today’s victory” said Rabita team captain Sanja Starovic. “We won the first and second set easy as we started off really strong and after going through ups and downs, we could pull together once more and win also the tie-break. Our main goal was to win this game and we did it.”
“Rabita and Omichka played each other twice this year and each game ended at the tie-break” added her mentor Eldar Yusubov. “This means that these teams deserve to make it to the finals. Congratulations to both teams on making the Playoffs 12 of this year’s CEV Volleyball Champions League.”
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