Iran suffer defeat against Serbia in FIVB Volleyball World League

The national Iranian men's volleyball team has lost to Serbia at the 2017 Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) World League.

On Saturday, the Iranian squad slumped to Serbia 1-3 (20-25, 23-25, 25-16 and 16-25) in a Pool D1 - Group 1 encounter held in front of 12,000 home fans at the Azadi Volleyball Hall in western Tehran.

Iranian volleyball players entered the court with heads up from the previous evening’s 3-2 (23-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-23, 15-12) victory over Belgium in their first-ever encounter at FIVB World League.

Iran’s head coach Igor Kolakovic fielded captain Saeid Marouf, Milad Ebadipour, Seyed Mohammad Mousavi, Farhad Ghaemi, Adel Gholami, Amir Ghafour and the libero Mehdi Marandi in the starting line-up.

The Serbians started the first set in a strong fashion, and led 4-2 in the 8th minute. Marko Podrascanin then slammed it for 5-2 with a perfect spike.

Serbia went on collecting points until Iran’s Manavinejad scored to make it 10-13 in the 21st minute.

The hosts then tied the score at 5-5 with the brilliant acts of Ebadipour.  

Iran went on collecting points until it took the first technical time out 8-7.

The Serbian volleyball players responded afterward, and recorded a 16-14 lead at the second technical time out. Finally, the Southeast Europeans closed the set 25-20.

Iranians brought the game under control as it progressed into the second set, and Ghafour scored the first point.

Mousavi then scored an ace to put Iran up 5-3. Iran was leading 10-8 in the 39th minute, when the 29-year-old Iranian volleyball player made it 11-8.

In the 59th minute, Srećko Lisinac closed the set 25-23 for Serbia.

The hosts opened the third set vigorously and sought to accumulate points. The Iranian team did a great job in service line and kept scoring as time passed, and won the set 25-16 at last.

The Serbian volleyball players regained the lead in the fourth and final set, and surged ahead to claim the set at 25-16.

“I am very happy for this victory. It was our best game in the World League for this summer. We played a good match especially in the first two sets. And after the third set, we had a good reaction in the fourth set getting together for victory. We need to forget this gain because tomorrow we have an important match against Belgium. We lost against them in the first week at home. So, we need to take some kind of revenge here,” Serbia’s captain Podrascanin said after the match.

He added, “Thanks to the crowd in Iran. Iran is one of the best volleyball country in the world and the crowd love volleyball here. They are really a great team. They have great players, great staff. I wish all the best for them in the World League and Asian championship,”

“Obviously, I am very satisfied with how we played. Last year, we were in the similar condition. We were up 2-0 and then we lost 3-2. So when we start to lose the third set, I was remembering the memories from the last year. Fortunately, reaction of the guys was really good and we started the fourth set very well and gained points which let us win the set very easily. As my captain said, we have to forget this match as soon as possible and think about tomorrow’s match against Belgium,” Serbia’s head coach Nikola Grbic commented.

“I believe that we are stronger than Belgium though we lost our home match last week. We only need to add pride here. If my players do in the same way like today, I am ready to play with them even right now,” Grbic noted.

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