Iran blanks Australia with straight-sets win in World Olympic qualifier
Iran’s national volleyball team has trounced Australia in straight sets at the Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan.
On Saturday, the Persians registered their first straight-sets win of the tournament by seeing off the Australian Men’s Volleyball team, the Volleyroos, 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-18) in a match played at the world-class Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
Players from both teams got off to a decent start, and the Australians earned the first two points of the match.
The Iranians, however, could establish themselves later on and brought the game under control.
They dug and spiked effectively throughout the first set, making it difficult for the opposite side to earn points. The Iranian volleyball players eventually won the set 25-19.
Iran's squad maintained its dominant performance in the second set of the game with some good attacks, and managed to chalk up a six-point lead in a little while. The sportsmen heaped pressure on their Australian counterparts, and won the set 25-17.
Iran extended its supremacy to the third set, and stood firm against the Volleyroos to power through. The Iranians ultimately claimed the set 25-18 and ended the game.
Iran’s 24-year-old Amir Ghafour was named the top scorer of the match with 19 points. Samuel Walker was Australia's top scorer with eight.
“It was a great victory for the first day. In the past, we have played badly in the opening match. We had a good side-out and beat a great team today,” captain Saeid Marouf said after the match.
“The biggest change with coach Raul Lozano has been in our mentality and our training schedule. His experience in three Olympic Games will help us in this tournament,” he added.
The Iranian volleyball players will return to action on Sunday, when they take on Canada men's national volleyball team in their second match.
The Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament kicked off in Tokyo, Japan, on May 28 and will run through June 5, 2016.
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