CAVA Women’s Volleyball Nations League:
Iran sets final date with host Uzbekistan
Iran progressed to the final showpiece of the CAVA Women’s Volleyball Nations League thanks to an emphatic 3-0 victory (25-15, 25-7, 25-7) over Tajikistan in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Thursday.
This was Iranian girls’ second straight-set victory – following their win against Kyrgyzstan the previous day – in the competition, securing a top-two finish in the league phase – featuring four Central Asian teams – and a place in Sunday’s showdown against the host regardless of the result between the two sides on Friday.
The two victories saw Iran collect 63.05 points to jump by nine spots and stand 53rd in the FIVB Women’s World Ranking.
Uzbekistan also came out victorious in straight sets against Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which will go head-to-head in the third-place contest on the final day.
“I had asked the players today to use the new formations we practiced in our training sessions. The opponent was weak, and although we couldn’t play to our full potential, the players still did a good job to implement the new tactics, which is why I’m pleased with their performance,” Iran’s South Korean head coach Lee Do-hee said after the game.
Iranian captain Shabnam Alikhani, meanwhile, welcomed the tournament as decent preparation for the upcoming Islamic Solidarity Games, which will kick off on November 7 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“The CAVA tournament is important for us due to its impact on the world ranking, and we will give our all to return home with the gold medal,” said the Iranian captain.
“The level of competition here has been relatively modest, and Iran’s top priority will be to deliver decent performances and results at the upcoming Islamic Countries Games.”