11/12/2013 17:01
Rabita keeps immaculate record after fifth straight victory
2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Women
Baku, Azerbaijan, December 11, 2013. Azerbaijan’s standout Rabita BAKU claimed on Wednesday their fifth straight victory in the prelims of the 2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women as the star-studded team captained by Sanja Starovic edged France’s rookie BEZIERS Volley 3:1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-10, and 27-25) thereby cementing their leadership in Pool A with 14 points.
Rabita started out very strong and with their terrific serves the hosts just destroyed BEZIERS backline. Katarzyna Skowronska-Dolata – who top scored in the end with 20 points – played just superbly in the opening set thereby paving the way for a speedy 25-15. However, BEZIERS was able to take the second set (23-25) before Rabita imposed once more their rule in the third (25-10) where their Puerto Rican wing-spiker Aurea Cruz did an excellent job spiking from every position with amazing quality. The fourth set, on the other hand, was another close one but in the end the hosts could claim their fifth consecutive victory in the competition and fourth under the guidance of their head coach Eldar Yusubov.
“Once again we got to see that every team participating in this competition must be taken seriously because even a short drop of concentration may significantly impact on the final result” Yusubov said after the game. “I think this was a good lesson for us and my players finally understood that they have to stay fully focused up to the final whistle” he added.
“We did not play our best tonight but could show our character especially by the time it counted the most” stressed Rabita team captain Sanja Starovic.
“I think we did not play that bad but still I am not satisfied with the final result” said French mentor Cyril Ong. “We put up a very good fight and we can take some positives from this.”
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