MUSCAT, NOV 4
The curtain came down on Monday on the preliminary round of Group One in the First Division Volleyball League, which featured two decisive matches. Sohar firmly secured their place at the top of the group, while Majees snatched the second qualifying spot to the final playoffs after a well-deserved 3–1 victory over Masirah in the decisive clash held at the indoor hall of Sohar Sports Complex.
The match details between Majees and Masirah unfolded as follows: Masirah started strongly and claimed the first set 25–17, capitalising on effective serves and well-timed blocks that caused early confusion in Majees’ formation.
At the start of the second set, Majees reorganised and raised their playing tempo by diversifying attacks from the wings and centre, securing the set 25–21 to level the match. Majees then reached their peak performance in the third set, imposing near-complete control thanks to accurate setting and quick transitions from defence to attack, sealing the set 25–12.
The momentum continued into the fourth set, which Majees won 25–18 by exploiting defensive errors from Masirah, securing a 3–1 victory.
Both teams delivered fluctuating performances throughout the sets, with Majees showing superiority in consistency and focus. Key players Waleed al Badi, Hilal al Maqbali, Hamad al Maamari, Majid al Shibli and Abdullah al Shibli played a decisive role through solid attacking, defensive coverage, and effective blocking.
On the other side, Masirah’s trio, Mohammed al Qasmi, Ibrahim al Balushi and Bilal al Farsi, stood out, attempting to revive their team’s hopes with strong serves and fast offensive plays, but their efforts were not enough to shift the momentum. As a result, Masirah exited the competition alongside Saham, failing to reach the second phase.
SOHAR SEAL FIRST PLACE
In the final match of the preliminary round, Sohar continued their strong run with a 3–0 victory over Al Shabab, concluding the group stage at the top of the standings with 21 points.
Set scores were as follows: Sohar claimed the first set 25–18 after a strong performance in serves and blocking, then maintained their momentum in the second set with a 25–21 win despite Al Shabab’s serious attempts to close the gap in the crucial points. Sohar sealed the match comfortably by dominating the third set 25–12, imposing full control over the flow of play to win the encounter in straight sets.
Led by Saeed Juma, Sohar players delivered an outstanding team performance that guided them to an easy win, with notable displays from Mohammed al Jabri, Khalifa al Jabri and Khalfan al Jabri. On the other side, Al Shabab, led by Mazin al Subhi, tried to keep up with their opponents but failed to narrow the gap.
Group One concluded its matches with Seeb finishing first and Al Bashayer in second place.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
