Iran Loses to Italy in FIVB Volleyball World League
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iran lost to Italy in straight sets 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-23) in the FIVB Volleyball World League 2014.
In the match held in Trieste, Italy, Kovar was the match's top scorer, with 15 points. Shahram Mahmoudi was Iran's top scorer with 13.
"We have played at the same level of Italy, but in my opinion the Italian serve was decisive,” Iran coach Slobodan Kovac said in the post match news conference.
Meantime, Iran's captain Saeid Marouflakrani said, "We tried to face the Italian attacks, but they are in a top shape. We’ll need something more for Verona match.”
Italy and Iran had met twice in the World League before – Iran won the first match 3-1 last year, then Italy responded by laboring to a 3-2 win in the second match - although Iran took the honors in last year's FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup in Japan, where the Persians beat Italy 3-2 in Kyoto.
The two sides meet again on Sunday.
