Home » WGCHC M: Iran victorious against U.S. in five-set thriller

WGCHC M: Iran victorious against U.S. in five-set thriller

by WoV

Iran scored a dramatic five-set victory over the United States 28-26, 19-25, 19-25, 27-25, 18-16 in their round-robin match at the World Grand Champions Cup on Saturday. The result left both teams with a 2-2 record. The contest marked the first meeting ever between the countries in the World Grand Champions Cup and only third overall. It is the first time Iran has beaten the U.S. in an FIVB competition. Mojtaba Mirzajanpour led Iran with 13 points in the triumph. Shahram Mahmoudi and Farhad Ghaemi added 11 each. Matthew Anderson scored a match-high 25 points for the U.S. in the loss. William Priddy and Maxwell Holt contributed 18 apiece.

Iran

Iran

A block by Tavana Vaafuti pulled the U.S. within one at 17-16. Carson Clark sent a serve wide and Iran was up 19-17. A block by Mahmoudi made it 20-17. Anderson’s spike again brought the U.S. within one at 21-20. Rahman Davoodi’s spike made it 22-20. Anderson’s block made it 23-22. The U.S. equalized 23-23 on a net infraction. Mahmoudi’s spike gave Iran a set point at 24-23. The U.S. could not handle a spike and then Mirzajanpour made a block that gave Iran the set 28-26. Anderson had eight points in the set, while Mahmoudi recorded four.

Mohammad Mousavi twisted his ankle with Iran leading 21-20 in the first set and was carried off by his teammates. He was later taken out of the arena for further treatment.

Clark’s spike gave the U.S. a six-point margin at 18-12. Mirzajanpour’s spike made it 19-15. Vaafuti soared for a spike and it was 20-16. Priddy’s service ace took it to 22-17. Another spike by Vaafuti put the U.S. within two points of the set at 23-18. Mirzajanpour served into the net to give the U.S. set point at 24-19. Anderson closed out the set 25-19 with a spike.

The fourth set was close from the start. Holt’s spike sent the U.S. into the first TTO with an 8-7 edge. Priddy’s soft spike put the U.S. in front 12-9. Gholami served into the net and it was 13-10. Another Priddy blast made it 15-12. Anderson’s spike gave the U.S. a 16-13 lead at the second TTO.

Hamzeh Zarini fired a serve long and it was 22-20. Iran could not handle a Clark spike and the U.S. was two points from the match at 23-20. Clark hammered a crosscourt spike wide and Iran was again within one at 23-22. The U.S. took a timeout. Holt crushed a spike it was level again at 25-25. Gaemi rose again and smashed a spike for 26-25. Zarini gave Iran the set 27-25 with a spike. Iran serve very well down the stretch to take the set.

Zarini made it 11-9 with a powerful spike. Zarini served into the net and the deficit was again one for the U.S. at 11-10. Clark uncorked a massive serve and the score was deadlocked 11-11. It was 13-11 Iran when the U.S. took a timeout. Tavana’s spike made it 13-12 as the U.S. tried to hang on. A block gave Iran match point at 14-12 Davoodi served into the net and it was 14-13. Holt’s spike made it 14-14 and the drama continued. Mahmoudi’s spike made it 15-14. Holt again kept the U.S. hopes alive with a spike. Another Zarini spike gave Iran its third match point at 16-15. Anderson tied it again with a spike. Zarini put Iran back up 17-16. Zarini ended it with a spike at 18-16.

To read more news from this competition click on World Grand Champions Cup 2013 M 

For more similar articles check out Latest news.

 

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