WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN IRAN AND KAZAKHSTAN, CUP WINNERS EMERGE IN ALBANIA

Recap of last week’s domestic volleyball trophies

• Defending men’s Albania Cup holders Partizani Tirana lift the trophy for the 15th time
• Women’s team of Tirana claim their 12th Albania Cup crown
• Saipa Tehran triumph as women’s national champions of Iran for the third time
• Zhetysu Taldyqorgan emerge as women’s national champions of Kazakhstan, collecting their ninth title

ALBANIA

The Tamara Nikolla hall in Korce hosted both the men’s and the women’s Albania Cup finals on Saturday. First, defending cup holders Partizani Tirana mastered a 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-23) sweep of the men’s final against city rivals Tirana and lifted the trophy for the 15th time in the club’s history. Partizani’s 28-year-old outside hitter Osman Qepa received the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHOmt0qtMaf/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

The women’s final that followed offered the thousand fans on the stands a spectacular five-set battle. Tirana came back from a set down twice during the match to emerge with a 3-2 (16-25, 25-15, 17-25, 25-18, 15-11) victory over event hosts Skenderbeu Korce. This way the club from the capital claimed their 12th Albania Cup crown. Tirana’s 33-year-old outside and captain Enkeleda Braho picked up the MVP award.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHPCbeNtD93/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

IRAN

Defending title holders Saipa Tehran triumphed as women’s national champions of Iran for the third time in the competition’s history. Last Thursday, they closed the championship series against Paykan Tehran after two four-set victories. In the deciding match (pictured in the main photo; credits: Nazanin Rezazadeh / volleyball.ir) played in front of three thousand spectators, Saipa celebrated a 3-1 (25-20, 25-17, 25-27, 25-19) away win. Two days earlier, they won the home game by 3-1 (25-27, 25-17, 25-18, 25-17). The third place and the bronze medals were jointly earned by the Iranian U20 national team and the team of Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan Isfahan. Saipa’s 32-year-old outside Mahsa Saberi was named MVP. She was joined on the Dream Team by setter Shabnam Alikhani (Saipa), opposite Sepinood Dastbarjan (Iran U20), outside hitter Mahsa Kadkhoda (Saipa), middle blockers Soudabeh Bagherpour (Saipa) and Zahra Karimi (Paykan), and libero Negar Kiani (Paykan).

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHLGTPouy0f/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

KAZAKHSTAN

Zhetysu Taldyqorgan emerged as the 2024-2025 women’s national champions of Kazakhstan, collecting their ninth national title. The championship series against Berel Oskemen took three matches to complete, all played in Oskemen last week, from Monday to Wednesday. In the first game, Zhetysu achieved a 3-1 (17-25, 25-12, 25-20, 25-20) comeback. The home team leveled the series on the next day with a 3-1 (25-20, 20-25, 25-21, 25-22) win. The deciding encounter produced another four-setter, with Zhetysu celebrating another 3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-12, 25-20) comeback victory. The bronze medals went to Kuanysh Petropavl, who closed the third-place playoff against Turan Turkistan in two matches. Zhetysu’s 27-year-old Ukrainian striker Karina Denisova was honored as MVP. The Dream Team was composed of setter Daria Sharhorodska (Zhetysu), opposite Tatyana Aldoshina (Berel), outside hitters Kristina Belova (Berel) and Zhanna Syroyeshkina (Kuanysh), middle blockers Irina Malkova (Berel) and Polina Ufimtseva (Kuanysh), and libero Madina Beket (Zhetysu).

https://www.instagram.com/p/DHNrsKjqi8E/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

QUICK LINKS

AVC Website: click www.asianvolleyball.net

AVC Facebook: click www.Facebook.com/AsianVolleyballConfederation

AVC Twitter: click: www.twitter.com/AsianVolleyball

AVC Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/avcvolley/?hl=en

Mikasa Instagram: click: https://www.instagram.com/mikasasports_official

AVC Youtube: click: Asian Volleyball Confederation

AVC WeChat: Asian Volleyball Confederation