Tehran, Iran, February 19, 2022 – In-form Kashan Barij Esans brought down the curtain on the Iran Women’s Volleyball Premier League with a bang after pulling off a dramatic 3-1 win against defending champions Saipa for their unprecedented title.
Kashan Barij Esans, the club from Kashan Province, performed brilliantly to stun Saipa, champions at the previous season, 25-19, 25-14, 21-25, 25-20 in a highly anticipated showdown to determine the eventual winning team which will represent Iran in the 2022 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship, due to be held in Semey, Kazakhstan from April 24 to May 1, 2022.
Saipa Tehran represented Iran at the 2021 Asian Women’s Club Championship, which, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was held behind closed doors at Terminal Hall inside Terminal 21 Korat Shopping Mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Despite the fact that Saipa Tehran could not finish top three in the seven-team tournament in the previous edition, it was the first-time ever that Saipa Tehran became the first Iranian side to advance to the semifinals and returned with the unprecedented fourth place in the Asian Women’s Club Championship.
Though putting up a brave fight in the Saturday’s final showdown of the Iran Women’s Premier League, title-holders Saipa failed to make their mark with the error-filled first two sets to go down 19-25 and 14-25 to Kashan Barij Esans.
However, they boosted their confidence and played more consistently for a hard-fought 25-21 win in the third set. Saipa remained in good form in the fourth set, but the Kashan Barij Esans’ up-and-coming talents came up with their well-proven abilities and amazing courage to end the pre-tournament favourites’ challenge in the thrilling set 25-20 for the match and the championship.
Following the victory, Barij Esans became the first team from Kashan Province to capture the Iran Women’s Premier League title.
Earlier, Esfahan Zob Ahan, former three-time Iran Premier League winners, had to be content with bronze medal as they turned things around and secured Tehran Paykan’s huge scare for the closely-contested 3-1 (29-27, 25-20, 25-27, 27-25) victory in the third-place playoff match.
The awards presentation took place right after the final match at the Federation Hall, with top three teams presented with cups, medals and cash prizes.
Italian Alessandra Campedelli, who was last month appointed by the Islamic Republic of Iran Volleyball Federation (IRIVF) to be the new Iran women’s national team head coach, watched the classification matches and final showdown closely onsite. IRIVF President Dr Mohammad Reza Davarzani and Vice President Dr Fariba Mohammadian also attended those matches.
FINAL RANKING
1. Barij Esans (Kashan)
2. Saipa (Tehran)
3. Zob Ahan (Esfahan)
4. Paykan (Tehran)
5. Mess (Rafsanjan)
6. Mehrsun (Tehran)
7. Setaregan (Fars)
8. Reef (Esfahan)
9. Javanan-e Zartoshti (Yazd)
10. Valibal Banovan (Varamin)
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Most Valuable Player: Mahsa Kadkhoda (Kashan Barij Esans)
Best Outside Spikers: Mona Ashofteh (Kashan Barij Esans) & Mahsa Saberi (Saipa)
Best Middle Blockers: Pouran Zare & Hanieh Mohtashamipou (Both from Saipa)
Best Opposite Spiker: Aytak Salamat (Kashan Barij Esans)
Best Setter: Faranak Babelian (Esfahan Zob Ahan)
Best Libero: Zahra Bakhshi (Tehran Paykan)
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