November 22, Nagano: The USA threw their name in the hat for second round qualification with a straight sets defeat of Iran.
The US scored their second victory of the competition with the 25-19, 25-22, 25-23 win, giving them the same 2-2 final win-loss record as the Czech Republic in Pool C.
Venezuela, also on two wins, will qualify automatically if they beat Italy later in the day, but otherwise points ratio will decide which of the three teams finish in the third and fourth qualification slots.
For the already eliminated Iranians, however, the defeat completed a winless World Championships, but again demonstrated the potential of their spirited team.
Both teams made tentative starts, with the early exchanges punctuated by missed serves and skewed spikes. Iran captain Peyman Akbari opened his account with a well-taken spike, and Alireza Nadi also rammed home a fierce drive as the pre-match nerves wore off.
Unfortunately for the Iranians, however, the US were taking more of the chances that came their way. James Polster worked his spiking arm into an early rhythm, and captain Thomas Hoff was quick to begin the thundering runs to the net that give his side a guarantee of points.
But Iran soon tightened up, and Behnam Mahmoudi scored a solid block to bring his side within a point at 12-11. The US were keen to regain their cushion in front, however, and pulled away again to reach the second TTO 16-12 up.
Iran persevered nevertheless, and were rewarded with a scoring run that saw Akbari, Mohammad Mansouri and Mohammad Torkashvand all find a way through.
But the US were steadily moving towards set point, and a William Priddy blast saw it arrive at 24-19. Riley Salmon moved clear on the left, and the US had a one-set lead. Salmon continued his form into the second set, and David McKienzie was also itching to add to the five points he had already bagged.
But Iran had snatched an early lead, and Torkashvand underlined the point when he smashed the ball into a backpedalling Priddy to head into the first TTO 8-6 ahead.
US coach Hugh McCutcheon called a time-out after Mansouri and Torkashvand had taken the score to 12-9, and although Hoff returned to rattle in more points for his side, Iran were holding firm.
Eventually the US gained parity, bringing the match to a tit-for-tat exchange of points until McKienzie took his side closer at 23-21.
A Polster ace gave the US set point, and Hoff again rampaged through the centre to settle the matter.
But Iran refused to give up the ghost. Torkashvand blazed in smashes as the third set got underway, and a Nadi block gave Iran another early 6-3 lead.
Mahmoudi flexed his muscles on the right as Iran maintained their advantage, as the US called a time-out trailing 15-12.
A Suxho ace aided the US recovery at 15-15, but Mahmoudi made sure it was Iran in front at the second TTO a point later.
Iran had scored a victory in itself when taking a set from Italy earlier in the competition, but McKienzie was doing his best to make sure they didn't find any further success. The US edged ahead at 20-18, but a fizzing spike from captain Akbari kept Iran's challenge alive and kicking.
But when Suxho brought up match point at 24-22, time was running out for the Asians. And when Polster's block could only be blocked out of play, Iran had played their last point while the USA waited to see what would happen in Pool C's final match.
