Iran’s national volleyball team lost to Russia Saturday night in Tehran’s Azadi Sports Complex in its last pool B FIVB World League match.
The final defeat marked Iran’s first against visiting Olympic champions to the shock of some 12,000 fans who watched as Russia defeated Kovač’s men 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-18, 25-21).
Disheartened by being ousted from the tournament after Poland registered a hard-fought home victory over the American team, Iranian volleyballers failed to demonstrate the same brilliant performance at their Friday match against Russians which sealed their victory in three straight sets 25-21, 25-21 and 25-21.
At the end of week 8 of the league, Iran is in the third spot of Pool B with 18 points, below the US and Poland with 27 and 22 points respectively, while Russia is rooted to the bottom with only 5 points.