Volleyball Nations League:
Iran finds momentum in Week 2
Unlike the first week of action, Iran got off to a flying start in Week 2 of the Volleyball Nations League in Belgrade, Serbia.
Having managed a single victory in four outings in Week 1 – a 3-2 win against Ukraine on the final day in Rio de Janeiro – Roberto Piazza’s men defeated the host 3-1 in their opening game in the Serbian capital, and then beat Argentina by the same scoreline on Friday.
Iran took the first set 25-21 before Argentina – on three wins in five prior to the game – bounced back with a 25-22 win in the second set.
Iran, however, restored the lead in the third set (25-22) and then fought back from five points down early in the fourth set to win 25-22 and collect the maximum three points – a first triumph for the Asian powerhouse over the South American opponent in six years.
Outside-hitter Morteza Sharifi topped the scoring for Iran with 14 points, with Ali Haqparast contributing 13 – including six in the final set.
Argentine opposite Pablo Sergio Koukartsev chipped in a game-high 18 points, while Luciano Palonsky (15) and Agustin Loser (14) also finished in double figures.
Despite a third successive win, Piazza said his team still needs to improve for the future games in the preliminary phase.
“We have to understand how to play [against an opponent] with a fast tempo like today, so it gave us a really big lesson,” Italian Piazza said after the game, adding: “We were a little bit late [at some stages] and that can be a problem in the future.”
Asked how his men recovered from a five-point deficit in the fourth set, the Italian said: “That’s a good question. I really don’t know. I need to ask them, because their culture is different and I have to understand them.
“I made some substitutions [midway in the fourth set] and they started to believe that was possible [to win the game]. After one block I guess the mood changed totally.”
The bad news for Piazza was that Sharifi would miss the remaining two games in the second week against Germany and the Netherlands after suffering a foot injury in the closing stages.
Hopping to progress to the VNL Finals for the first time since 2022, Iran will visit Gdańsk, Poland, for Week 3 – starting with a game against the home side on July 16.
An all-Asian encounter will see Iran take on China a day later at the Ergo Arena, followed by games against Olympic champion France (July 19) and Bulgaria (July 20).