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POLAND FOLLOW WINNER AZERBAIJAN AND RUNNER UP RUSSIA TO 2006 FIVB WORLD GRAND PRIX FINAL ROUND
FIVB World Grand Prix 2006 - European Qualification
Guba, Azerbaijan, July 31, 2005. In presence of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic Mr. Ilham Aliyev as well as CEV President Mr. André Meyer and CEV Vice President Mrs. Riet Ooms the bronze medal match of the European Qualification Tournament for the 2006 FIVB World Grand Prix Final Round between Poland and Germany as well as the final dispute between Azerbaijan and Russia have been completed. As hosting team Azerbaijan and 2004 Olympic silver medallist Russia have already qualified yesterday, finishing as the two first ranked teams in this competition, the match for third ranked between 2003 European Champion Poland and challenger Germany decided on which European team was going to attain the third empty spot in the 2006 FIVB World Grand Prix. Italy, Vice Champion of the 2005 FIVB World Grand Prix, is already qualified as one of the organisers of the 2006 FIVB World Grand Prix Final Round.
Germany kick started into the match showing no respect towards the 2003
European Champion from Poland. Especially 18-year-old Margarethe Kozuch
and team captain Angelina Gruen impressed with attacking play, allowing
no chance for the Polish block so that the Germans seized a maximum
eight-point advantage (19-11). At 22-16 however the Poles came back
with Malgorzata Glinka scoring most points (22-22). Angelina Gruen then
seized three set points for Germany (24-23, 25-24, 26-25) of which
Malgorzata Glinka managed to defend only two. The third one was
successfully taken by Margarethe Kozuch, giving the outsiders a 1:0
lead.Although the Germans continued defending brilliantly in particular athletic libero Kerstin Tzscherlich, the team coached by Andrzej Niemczyk found better into their game with Katarzyna Skowronska and Maria Liktoras scoring in block as well as in attack. Continuously increasing their lead (15-7, 20-9, 23-10), the Poles safely secured the second set (25-13), leveling at 1:1.
During the third set the Polish squad maintained a safe lead which they never relinquished, dominating the team coached by head coach Hee Wan Lee with a 2:1 lead (25-21).
Sharing points at the beginning of the fourth set (10-10) it wasn’t long before the Polish team ran off under the impulse of Malgorzata Glinka who at 13-11 scored three points in a row (16-12). With the help from Katarzyna Skowronska, Sylwia Pycia, and Dorota Swieniewicz the Poles increased their leeway to eight points (20-12). Although the Germans didn’t give up reducing the gap to four points, mainly thanks to experienced Angelina Gruen (21-17), the Poles weren’t any longer to stop, finally capturing the fourth set and the 3:1 victory (25-19).
“Of course we’re disappointed as we had our chances”, commented German team captain Angelina Grün after the match, “but we had a very young team here in Guba who haven’t played together for long and where many players are not used to the pressure of important international matches. We performed well at phases but overall the consistency is yet missing. Nevertheless, we’re going to take home a lot of valuable experience.”
In the final match Olympic silver medallist Russia met home team Azerbaijan with both teams already having qualified for the 2006 FIVB World Grand Prix Final Round. Although Russia claimed the first set (25-17) Azerbaijan levelled to 1:1 (25-16). Inspired by this and with the support of almost 3’500 fans the team coached by Faig Garayev continued strong, increasing a three-point lead in the third set (15-12) to seven points (24-17) thanks to successful attacks by mainly Natalya Mammadova and captain Alla Hasanova. It was also the former who scored the final point, taking a 2:1 home lead (25-17). However, Russia didn’t let loose and managed to seize the fourth set 25-18 so that the tiebreak had to decide. Russia took the first important lead after 6-6 with Elena Godina and Yulia Merkulova booking the points (9-6). On Azerbaijan side Yelena Shabovta, Alla Hasanova and especially Natalya Mammadova brought their team back into the game. The first match point went to Russia (13-14) but Natalya Mammadova saved it (14-14). With a kill block Inessa Korkmaz brought her team into the lead (15-14) but Ekaterina Gamova balanced with a successful spike (15-15). Another smash by Natalya Mammadova gave the home team their second match point, which Yelena Shabovta successfully blocked (17-15) causing a cheer of relief and happiness amongst the faithful Azerbaijan fans.
Individual Awards
Most Valuable Player: Natalya MAMMADOVA (AZE)
Best Spiker: Ekaterina GAMOVA (RUS)
Best Server: Yelena PARKHOMENKO (AZE)
Best Blocker: Maria LIKTORAS (POL)
Best Libero: Valeriya KOROTENKO (AZE)
Best Receiver: Angelina GRÜN (GER)
Best Setter: Izabela BELCIK (POL)
Best Digger: Alla HASANOVA (AZE)
To view the photo gallery please click here.
Please find further results and pictures on the CEV website at www.cev.lu/VOLLEYBALL/Grand Prix. Further information on the 2006 FIVB World Grand Prix can be found at www.fivb.org.
FIVB World Grand Prix 2006 – European Qualification Tournament in Guba (AZE)
Final Results
|
Classification 3-4 |
POL - GER |
3:1 |
25-27, 25-13, 25-21,25-19 |
|
Final |
AZE - RUS |
3:2 |
17-25, 25-16, 25-17, 18-25, 17-15 |
Semifinal Results
|
RUS - POL |
3:2 |
19-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-8 |
|
AZE - GER |
3:0 |
28-26, 25-10, 25-20 |
Final Ranking
|
1. |
Azerbaijan |
|
2. |
Russia |
|
3. |
Poland |
|
4. |
Germany |
|
5. |
Netherlands |
|
Turkey |
|
|
Bulgaria |
|
|
Romania |
More on the web at www.cev.lu
Enjoy & Be There:
04-07 August 2005: Under 23 European Beach Volleyball Championships 2005, Myslowice, Poland.
06-09 August 2005: Nestea European Championship Tour - Swiss Open, Lucerne, Switzerland.
11-14 August 2005: Under 18 European Beach Volleyball Championships, Illichivsk, Ukraine.
25-28 August 2005: Nestea European Championship Tour Final, Moscow, Russia.
02-11 September 2005: Men’s Senior European Championships 2005, Rome (ITA) and Belgrade (SCG).
16-25 September 2005: Women’s Senior European Championships 2005, Pula and Zagreb, Croatia.
More on the web at www.cev.lu
Enjoy & Be There:
04-07 August 2005: Under 23 European Beach Volleyball Championships 2005, Myslowice, Poland.
06-09 August 2005: Nestea European Championship Tour - Swiss Open, Lucerne, Switzerland.
11-14 August 2005: Under 18 European Beach Volleyball Championships, Illichivsk, Ukraine.
25-28 August 2005: Nestea European Championship Tour Final, Moscow, Russia.
02-11 September 2005: Men’s Senior European Championships 2005, Rome (ITA) and Belgrade (SCG).
16-25 September 2005: Women’s Senior European Championships 2005, Pula and Zagreb, Croatia.
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