SPORTS
Comfortable start for hosts, while Dutch comeback sets up crucial Swiss clash at Beach Volleyball competition
Baku, June 16, AZERTAC
Netherlands' Rimke Braakman and Jolien Sinnema put themselves in a strong position in Pool F of the women's Beach Volleyball competition, coming from behind to beat Russia's Yulia Abalakina and Ksenia Dabizha.
The Russians took the first set 21-18, but Sinnema's powerful net game helped the Dutch pair claim the second set 21-15 and the third set tie-breaker 15-13.
"We had some problems in the first set," Sinnema said. "In the second set I focused more on passing and we started to serve with more pressure. We got some aces which was good."
In the other match in Pool F on Tuesday morning, the Swiss pair of Nicole Eiholzer and Nina Betschart defeated Denmark's Line Trans and Helle Soendergaard.
The Dutch and Swiss pairs will play each other in Tuesday's evening session at 18:00 in a match that will likely determine the pool winner.
Azerbaijan's Raquel Ferreira was relieved after she and Iuliia Karimova registering an important opening win over Poland in Pool A.
"It is a little nerve-wracking being part of this event in such a big arena and playing in front of all the Azeri people and representing the country," she said. "We definitely feel the responsibility. It is one baby step (towards gold)."