Valeriya Korotenko is an Azerbaijani

Azerbaijani people

The Azerbaijanis are a Turkic-speaking people living mainly in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in the neighbourhood states, Georgia, Russia and formerly Armenia. Commonly referred to as Azeris or Azerbaijani Turks , they also live in a wider area from the Caucasus to...

 professional volleyball

Volleyball

Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...

 player. She is currently playing for Fenerbahçe.

Born in Baku

Baku

Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...

, Valeriya first played volleyball at age nine and joined the school volleyball team. She is married to Azerbaijani judoka Nijat Mammadov.

Korotenko is best known for her distinctive defensive skills and tenacious play.

She played 180 times for the Azerbaijan women's national volleyball team

Azerbaijan women's national volleyball team

The Azerbaijan women's national volleyball team represents the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan in international women's volleyball competitions and friendly matches.-World Championship:* 1994 — 10th place* 1998 — did not qualify...

 and was awarded the best libero of 2005 Women's European Volleyball Championship

Korotenko was a member of Azerrail Baku

Azerrail Baku

Azerrail Baku is an Azerbaijani women's volleyball club which plays its home matches at the Sports Games Palace in Baku.-History:In April 2011, club claimed their second Women's CEV Top Teams Cup in their history as they beat Lokomotiv Baku in all Azerbaijani final.-Team 2010-2011:As of July...

 and Volero Zurich

Voléro Zürich

Voléro Zürich is a Swiss volleyball club which is playing their home matches at the Sportanlage Im Birch in Zürich. It plays in the Women's CEV Champions League....

 before joining Fenerbahçe Women's Volleyball

Fenerbahçe Women's Volleyball

Fenerbahçe Universal , as known as Yellow Angels, is the women's volleyball department of Fenerbahçe S.K., a major sports club based in Istanbul, Turkey...

 team. She won the bronze medal at the 2008–09 CEV Cup playing with Fenerbahçe Acıbadem and was awarded "Best Receiver".

Individuals

• 2005 European Championship "Best Libero"
• 2008–09 CEV Cup "Best Receiver"