Press release

Almirante Brown, Argentina, August 25, 2011 - In a Pool H match, Iran passed the test that Korea settled and won 3-1 (21-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22) to have the semifinals for ninth place at a glance. The Koreans failed to earn their first victory of the World Championship, blocked out by the Iranians, who led by a wide 15-2 in the blocking department.

Korea's Gyeong-Bok Na clearly won the scoring contest with 24 points, including 20 spikes, 2 blocks and 2 aces. The Iranian side was more balanced, with Javad Hosseinabadi leading with 15 kills and Milad Ebadipour and Pourya Fayazi achieving 14 points each.

With bad serves from both sides and only a few successful spikes, the match began leveled but Iran managed a slim lead in 8-7. Korea's captain Myung-Geun Song improved his level and his team reached the second stop 16-14. The Koreans maintained the lead up to the end with the contribution of Na and won the set with an ace of their captain.

Korea relied on Jun-Young Kim to advance in the second chapter (8-7), but Iran stole the lead and get to the second TTO 16-13, with an improvement of side spikers Hosseinnabadi and Ebadipour. Some great blocks of Sajad Dehnavi allowed Iran to win the set in 25-17.

The third set had another close start, with Iran ahead by 8-7, with an amazing play of Ebadipour. The demanding block of the Iranians threw the Koreans off track, and so the lead remained to 16-14. Iran took advantage of more Korean errors and won the set with a bad serve of Na.

Korea overcame the problems and started the fourth set with a slight advantage, reaching the first TTO in 8-6. Na scored several spikes and was a key player for his team, well assisted by setter Seung-Won Lee, to stay ahead (16-12). However, Fayazi raised his numbers and crushed the Korean ambition to reach the tie-break. Na sent the ball out and Iran celebrated in 25-22.