VOLLEYBALL – Bahrain kept their undefeated record intact last night in the second Arab Youth Volleyball Championship, currently being played in the kingdom.
The hosts secured their third successive win with a hard-earned 3-0 (25-14, 35-33, 25-10) decision against a battling Kuwait at Isa bin Rashid Volleyball Arena at Isa Sports City in Riffa.
The Bahrainis needed to fight back from a late deficit in a marathon second set to maintain their pristine run so far in the tournament, where they have yet to concede a single frame.
Outside hitters Sayed Hasan Alabbar and Mohammed Haram came up big for the home team when it mattered most.
They stepped up with crucial attacks to either keep the Bahrainis alive or power them ahead in the see-saw set two.
Their teammates then followed their lead en route to closing out the match in straight sets, adding to their earlier dominant 3-0 victories in the competition against Jordan and Algeria.
Following their win, Bahrain Volleyball Association and Arab Volleyball Association secretary general Feras Alhelwachi joined the nationals on the court and congratulated them on the fine outcome.
In other results yesterday, Egypt joined Bahrain in staying unbeaten after outclassing defending champions Saudi Arabia 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-16), while Algeria overcame Jordan 3-1 (25-21, 18-25, 25-14, 25-13).
Bahrain have two games remaining in the single round-robin tournament and they will be key to their title ambitions.
Following a rest day today, the nationals will next take on Saudi tomorrow in their penultimate assignment.
They then complete their tournament schedule against Egypt on Sunday next week on the championship’s concluding night – an affair that is widely expected to decide this year’s Arab youth title.
Both contests are scheduled to begin at 7pm.
There is only one fixture this evening. It is between Algeria and Saudi, and it is set for a 5pm start.
In their win yesterday, Bahrain cruised with a dominant opening set, where a spike by middle blocker Ammar Ebrahim gave them a commanding 15-6 lead.
Later, opposite spiker Mohammed Kadhem supplied the winning point for the 1-0 advantage.
The Bahrainis were then on the back foot for virtually the entire second frame, but they showed their resilience.
Trailing 22-24, Haram scored on back-to-back attacks to draw Bahrain level and extend the set further.
Neither side could then find a winner over the ensuing rallies as they traded blows.
Haram later edged the nationals ahead 33-32 with a stunning ace, and after Kuwait equalised once more, Alabbar hit a smash to make it 34-33.
That set the stage for Kadhem’s decisive spike, which he delivered on target to seal the 2-0 cushion.
The Bahrainis then rode their momentum into the third set while having deflated their opponents’ spirits.
A Haram spike put the nationals first into double digits at 10-5, and later a block out on a Haram attack earned them the match-clinching point.
Bahrain were silver-medallists in the inaugural edition of Arab championship held in 2024, but are looking to go one better this year on their home floor.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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