Iran to face Russia in FIVB U19 World Championship semis

TEHRAN,July 7(MNA)--Iran defeated Argentina in four sets (23-25, 25-20, 29-27, 25-23) at the Baja California High Performance Center to become the first semifinalist of the FIVB Boys’ U19 World Championship on Friday. Iran will face Russia on early Sunday. The Iranian team was defeated by Russia 3-0 in group stage. Mohammad-Javad Manavinezhad was the top scorer with 18 points, followed by Javad Hekmati, who also was a first-time starter, with 17. Iran benefitted from a good game distribution of their second setter Moein Moeinfar, who started in his first match of the competition, and pocketed the triumph with a balanced attack. Argentina’s Nicolas Lazo topped the scoring charts with a match-high 21 points, FIVB wrote. “Our team was a little bit tired from the trips to Mexicali back and forth and the hot weather in Mexicali. We took advantage of our serves and it is our best technique,” Iran coach Iraj Mozaffari said in the post-match news conference.