Azerbaijan qualified for Women's Volleyball World Championship
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijan's women volleyball team has been qualified for the 2014 Women's Volleyball World Championship, which is scheduled to be held in Italy on September 23-October 12.
The Azerbaijani national team won the privilege beating the Serbian team in the final match of the third round in "J" group of the qualification at the volleyball center in Baku on January 5.
The match was breathtaking as the winner was determined only at the end. Serbian athletes headed the first and the third sets. However, Azerbaijan was stronger and won the game 3-2.
Israel and Estonia also met on the same day. However, the match was of the formal character and they were claimed the place at the group. The match ended with Israeli team win 3-0, claiming the third place in the group.
The Women's World Championship will feature 24 teams divided
into four pools of six teams for the first round, which will be a
round robin system over five days - three matches per day - with
four cities Rome, Trieste, Bari and Verona hosting a pool each.
The top four teams of each pool will advance to the second round,
where the 16 teams will be split into two pools of eight, with the
top three of each pool advancing to the third round.
The top three teams from the two second-round pools will advance to
the third round with the winners, placed in each pool, while the
second and third will be drawn.
The third and final round will consist of a round robin system with
the top two teams of each pool advancing to the semifinals before
the final takes place in Milan on October 12.