Tehran, Iran, February 24, 2021 – Urmia Shahrdari and Amol Labaniat kicked off their playoffs campaigns in the Iran Men’s Volleyball Super League Away Round at Federation Hall with hard-fought wins on Wednesday.
In the opening match, Amol Labaniat, the sixth-ranked team of the table, fought hard against Yazd Shahdab, the third-ranked side after the conclusion of the 30-week preliminary round. Both sides had the similar performance with one win against one loss in matches contested among them. In the playoffs this time, Amol Labaniat proved stronger to beat the same rivals in dramatic four sets 25-22, 25-18, 14-25, 25-22.
The second encounter saw Urmia Shahrdari, the second-ranked team after the preliminary round, face an uphill task against Gonbad Shahrdari, the team finishing seventh after the preliminaries. Known for their spirited challenges, Gonbad bounced back from their straight-set loss to Urmia Shahrdari in Week 12 to pull off a 3-1 triumph against the same rivals in Week 20.
After a 1-1 tie in the preliminaries, Urmia Shahrdari, fielding some Iranian national players, remained impressive as they came from behind to beat Gonbad Shahrdari in exhausting five sets 23-25, 25-22, 25-17, 22-25, 15-9.
With their dramatic wins, Urmia Shahrdari and Amol Labaniat joined Sirjan Foulad and Sepahan Foulad to complete the four winning teams of the away round.
After the away round on February 23 and 24, the eight participating teams will join the fray in the home round on February 25 and 26. Like the away round, the same match schedule will be held for home matches.
As home-and-away matches will be held in the playoffs, each team has to win both matches to secure a berth in the Final Four. However, the third match on the best-of-three format on February 27 or 28 is necessary if both teams play with the same level to share one win apiece in the two home-and-away matches contested among them. The third match is held to decide the winning teams for the Final Four.
DAY 2 RESULT
Away matches
Amol Labaniat b Yazd Shahdab 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 14-25, 25-22)
Urmia Shahrdari b Gonbad Shahrdari 3-2 (23-25, 25-22- 25-17, 22-25, 15-9)
DAY 3 MATCH SCHEDULE
Home matches
10:30 GMT– Sepahan Foulad v Varamin Shahrdari
13:30 GMT – Sirjan Foulad v Tehran Saipa
Live matches can be watched via https://www.aparat.com/irivf/live
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