Ileniya Luna de Manqo, an Italian volleyball player from the "DH Volley" women's volleyball club in Azerbaijan, commented on the game (3:2) against "Ganja" in the 15th round of the Azerbaijan High League in volleyball.
Speaking to Idman.Biz, the legionnaire stated that the injury of a teammate at the beginning of the match put them in a difficult situation: "It was difficult to recover in the first two sets. But then we came to our senses and showed the game we had been showing throughout the season."
According to her, she also had difficulty adapting to the game at first:
"Then I realized that we all had to become more active. I talked to myself, focused my attention and was able to contribute to the victory. Especially our connection with our setter was amazing."
The Italian volleyball player also revealed how she motivates herself in difficult moments: "I like to walk in the fresh air, be alone in a quiet place and remember my successful moments. Otherwise, it is difficult to get rid of negative thoughts."
Luna de Manqo is performing at a professional level for the first time and in Azerbaijan. Sharing her impressions of the championship, she emphasized that the competition is high, the teams are very impressive, and she said that she feels comfortable in Baku.
"Compared to the university league in the USA, the environment here is completely different. I was one of the most experienced in the team there, and here I am one of the youngest. But the coaching staff doesn't put pressure on me and allows me to be myself," she added.
The Italian legionnaire also highly appreciated Baku and Azerbaijani cuisine:
"The city is very beautiful, the food is amazing. It is different from Italian cuisine - there are more spices and meat here. The secret to living abroad is to be open-minded and discover new things."