Puerto Rican Cruz, Dominicans Castillo and Vargas stand out in Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 18, 2014 – Puerto Rican Aury Cruz and Dominicans Brenda Castillo and Annerys Vargas were among the best players of the 2013-14 Women’s Volleyball League of Azerbaijan that concluded on Saturday with Rabita Baku dispatching Azeryol Baku in sweeping fashion.

Cruz of champions Rabita Baku was named the season’s Most Valuable Player as well as Best Receiver and Best Digger while teammate Castillo was selected as Best Libero of the year. The veteran Vargas of Azeryol was the Best Blocker.

Poland’s Katarzyna Skowronska, the MVP of the Finals with an outstanding performance for Rabita, won the scoring title while Netherlands’ Mano Flier of Igtisadchi Baku captured the honors as Best Server.

Thailand’s Nootsara Tomkom of Rabita and Thinkaow Pleumjit of Igtisadchi took home the plaques as Best Setter and Best Spiker, respectively.

Rabita overcame a tough first set to win the first match of the best-of-five final series by a 3-1 (26-28, 25-20, 25-21, 25-19) result.

They arrived to the brink of winning the crown with another four-set (25-16, 20-25, 25-16, 25-19) victory in the second contest, before a sweeping triumph 25-23, 28-26, 25-16 in the third encounter.