MUSCAT: The final round of the preliminary stage of the Omani Volleyball League (OVL) concluded on Saturday, witnessing dominant performances from Al Bashayer, Al Salam, Masirah and Majis. These teams have now secured their places in the final stage of the competition.
Al Salam secures first place after beating Al Seeb
In one of the most exciting matches of the season, Al Salam secured a crucial win against its rival Al Seeb, claiming victory in three sets to one in a highly competitive and intense encounter that lasted until the final moments.
Both teams entered the match with high focus and determination to claim the win. The first set was closely contested, with both sides exchanging points in a fierce battle of attack and defence. Eventually, Al Salam managed to edge out the set with a narrow 26-24 win after extra points. Al Seeb attempted to level the score quickly in the second set, starting strong and gaining a four-point lead thanks to fast strikes and solid defensive coverage. However, Al Salam made a strong comeback, showing great team cohesion and experience in handling crucial moments, eventually securing the set 25-22, putting Al Seeb under immense pressure.
Despite being down two sets, Al Seeb responded with a completely different performance in the third set, asserting full control and dominating by a wide margin. Capitalising on some defensive errors from Al Salam, Al Seeb took the set convincingly 25-16.
The fourth set turned out to be the most thrilling, with an intense exchange of points as both teams displayed high-level skill and concentration. The set extended beyond 30 points, keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats. In the end, Al Salam managed to secure the set 33-31, sealing the victory and finishing the preliminary round at the top of the standings with 20 points, while Al Seeb followed with 18 points.
Several players stood out during the match, particularly Al Salam's Iranian professional Arif Moradi, who was the team's main attacking force, alongside setter Mohammed al Muqbali and strong hitter Majid al Shibli in position (4). On the other side, Al Seeb delivered an impressive performance led by Saud al Maamari in position (3) and Mahmoud al Saadi in position (4), but their efforts were not enough to halt Al-Salam’s momentum.
Results of the final round matches
Al Bashayer defeated Saham in straight sets (25-15, 25-15, 25-15), dominating the game throughout. Masirah secured a well-deserved win over Al Shabab in three sets to one, with set scores of 25-19, 25-13, 21-25, and 25-16, as Al Shabab managed to steal the third set. While Majis overcame Sohar in straight sets (25-20, 25-21, 25-21), delivering a strong and consistent performance.
Qualified teams for the final stage
With the preliminary stage now concluded, the top five teams Al Salam, Al Seeb, Al Bashayer, Majis and Masirah have secured their spots in the final round. They will compete in a home-and-away format to determine the four teams that will advance to the semifinals and move closer to the league title.
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