Iran v-ballers never gave up against Italy, coach says

TEHRAN,June 30(MNA)--Iran volleyball coach Julio Velasco said that his team never gave up against Italy in the World League 2013 match on Friday. In the match held at Palasport G. Panini in Modena, Iran outscored Italy to get their second consecutive win in an extraordinary game that ended 3-1 (25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 32-30). “My guys has fought throughout the all match, from the first point to the last, without losing spirits even when Zaytsev kept on scoring points,” said Iran’s coach Julio Velasco. “We were good at seizing the opportunity and that’s precisely what I always ask for to my team: never give up.” “We won a memorable match for our country,” said Iran’s libero Zarif Ahangaran. “It was a great match. We had trained very hard and fought over each point. And now ahead there is another very tough match.” The win is Iran’s second-ever World League win in its inaugural FIVB World League Season. Iran secured their first ever World League win at home against Serbia: 3-2. Iran is the first team to win a match in their World League debut season since the Czech Republic in 2003. The loss is a blow to Italy, whose unbeaten run came to an end last week after five matches, when the team lost to Russia 3-2. “Matches such as this need to regarded as lessons for us,” said Italy’s coach Mauro Berruto. “Iran has played well and has won because has been more confident than us.”