Azerbaijan and Norway qualify for second round

2010 CEV Junior European Championships

Holte, Denmark, January 10, 2010. Azerbaijan defeated this afternoon the hosts of Denmark in Holte and eventually qualified for the second round of the 2010 CEV Women’s Junior European Championship. The Azerbaijani girls will join next April 6-11 the hosts of France along with Belarus, Romania, Slovenia and Ukraine to vie there for a spot in the final round slated for next September in Serbia. The Danish expectations to go through the first round failed again later in the afternoon as the local boys were outclassed in three sets in their second and last match against Norway. The Norwegians thus qualify for the second round and will compete in Montenegro for Pool B, testing out their real value there in a very tough group consisting of the former Yugoslavs, plus Spain, Israel, Italy and Poland.
After both Azerbaijan and Denmark had won their respective matches against Norway, the third and final match of the group was going to decide which team would have clinched a berth for the second round. The strong team from Azerbaijan was from the start considered as the pre-favorite of the tournament, but the Danish girls showed immediately that they were ready to fight for their chances. With strong blocking and good fast attacks from middle player Juliane Daugaard, perfectly served by setter Rikke Smed Iversen, the Danish team was able to maintain the score very close for a long time. At 24:23 Denmark, in front of 400 crazy and excited spectators, had a set ball. But the girls from Azerbaijan had the best nerves at the end of the set and took the last ball for the final 26-24. In the second set Denmark was seemly shaken by the disappointing loss, and the Azerbaijani team, led by very strong attacks for Ayshan Abdulazimova, could easily win the set 25 to 8. From the beginning of the third set the match again turned into to an exciting and interesting challenge where the teams were equal up to the second technical time-out. From that point the strong Azerbaijani girls sharpened their serving and attacking and, in spite of some substitutions and time-outs of the Danish head coach Sven-Erik Lauridsen, Denmark couldn’t find a way to overcome the opponents. Azerbaijan notched the third set 25-16 and is now ready to have a shot at the second round. Denmark ends up as number 2 in the group and Norway took the third place in the standings.

In the third and final match of the men’s tournament, Denmark played the reigning NEVZA champions from Norway. Both teams had previously beaten England 3:0, so the winner of today’s match was going to secure a spot for the second round of the Championship. In the first set the Norwegian team put up a very impressive performance in block and defense, so the Danes had big problems in scoring points. The impressive play of Norwegian setter Jonas Kvalen gave his fellows many good attacking situations. The set ended with a win for Norway at 25-15. From the beginning of the second set Denmark lined-up setter Necdet Nahiner who burst some energy into the Danish team and the match was very equal up to 20:20. From there on the Norwegian boys showed great skills in all aspects of the game and could close the set 25-21. The third set was a repetition of the previous one. The two teams were very close up till the end of the set. From there on Norway showed some high class actions and could again close the set at 25-20. The result means that Norway wins the first round and goes on to the second qualification step scheduled for early April. Denmark takes the second place and England finishes third. A big crowd of spectators followed today’s matches in Holte and they had a fantastic experience with good volleyball in perfect surroundings.

Results

Women
Azerbaijan vs. Denmark 3:0 (26-24, 25-8, 25-16)

Men
Norway vs. Denmark 3:0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-20)

Click here for additional info about the matches

Visit also the official website of the local organizers www.holtevolley.dk