AVC Women Champs/ Iranian Women lost the debut match against Taipei

Manila, Philippines, August 9, 2017 – With team captain Chen Wan-ting leading the charge, the hard-hitting Chinese Taipei whipped Iran 25-15, 25-27, 25-17, 25-20 to kickstart their SMM 19th Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship campaign on a winning note here.

Facing their first opponents in Pool D, the skipper Chen willed her team to a convincing victory inside the Muntinlupa Sports Complex as she finished with 14 points built on 11 kills, 2 blocks, and 1 service ace.

The Iranians, though, didn’t go down without a fight, controlling the pace of the second frame before figuring out in a dogfight in the latter part, which they eventually carved out to tie the match thanks to timely hits and key defensive stops from Soudabeh Bagherpour and Mina Roosta.

But that proved to be the last stand for Iran as Chinese Taipei, which although lost the blocking department, 5-14, would rediscover their attacking prowess in the ensuing sets as the combination of hitters Chen Yi-Ju, Huang Hsin-Yu, and Chen Tzu-Ya, who combined for 28 markers, proved to be too much to handle.

Chinese Taipei will face Maldives while Iran will try to avoid a back-to-back defeat at the hands of powerhouse Thailand on Thursday, August 10.