IRAN, FRANCE AND BRAZIL KEEP PERFECT WIN RECORD, KLIUKA LEADS SCORERS IN MEN’S VNL WEEK 1

Lausanne, Switzerland, June 3, 2019 – Iran, France and Brazil enjoyed a perfect start with three wins, while Egor Kliuka’s high-scoring performances helped Russia to a 2-1 win-loss record in the first week of the men’s tournament in the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations League.

On Sunday, Iran completed a sweep of their matches in Jiangmen, following their straight-set win against Germany to claim pole position in the overall team rankings. In Novi Sad, France beat Japan in four sets to win Pool 4, while Brazil prevailed in four sets against their World Championship final rivals Poland in Pool 3 in Katowice.

Brazil’s Wallace De Souza collected 49 points from 45 attacks and four blocks, Iran’s Amir Ghafour led his team with a total of 48 points, and France’s Jean Patry headed his team’s offence with 42 markers in three matches.

Russia’s Egor Kliuka, however, topped the opening week’s scoring table as he led Russia with 64 points built from 46 spikes, seven blocks and 11 service winners. Kliuka’s scoring output was seven points more than Italy’s Gabriele Nelli who recorded 57 points.

Egor Kliuka spikes the ball past Serbia’s Lazar Cirovic and Aleksandar Okolic

Iran’s Saeid Marouf helped Iran as the tournament’s leading setter as he guided his team to win all their matches in the first week of play, while Santiago Danani, who manned the Argentine defence, was the best digger and second best receiver so far.

The teams now head off to their next overseas destinations, except China who will travel domestically to Ningbo for the second week of the VNL, when they host three European squads – Bulgaria, Poland and France – in Pool 5.

The Russians will fly home to Ufa to host Italy, United States and Portugal in Pool 6. Japan will take on Argentina, Iran and Brazil in Tokyo for Pool 7 matches. Pool 8 will be played in Ottawa with hosts Canada playing against Australia, Germany and Serbia.

France celebrate a point against Japan