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After two days off, the United States will resume play at the World Championship in the consolation bracket.
No. 9 United States will play No. 4 Iran in its consolation second round pool-play opener Wednesday in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The United States, Iran, No. 2 Russia and No. 19 Korea are in the consolation Pool H after all four teams failed to advance to the second round. The two top teams in Pool H following the three-match consolation second round will advance to play for a ninth-place finish in the 16-team international tournament.
Check out what to know about this match between the United States and Iran.
No. 9 United States (1-2, 0-0 Pool H) vs. No. 4 Iran (2-1, 0-0 Pool H)
Match vitals: 6 p.m. (5 p.m. EST) in Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Last medal finish at World Championship: United States (never); Iran (2009 silver)
Incoming or current NCAA players on roster: United States (nine); Iran (zero)
What to know: With a medal finish no longer a possibility at the World Championship, the United States will begin play in the second round consolation bracket with a pool-play match against Iran. The United States moved into the consolation bracket after losing its final two first-round matches against No. 15 Bulgaria and No. 1 Argentina to finish Pool A in last place. Iran in its first-round pool finished in a three-way tie for first place at 2-1 but lost the tie-breaker to Spain and Serbia and failed to advance to the second round. Both the United States and Iran can end the World Championship no better than ninth place. The pool-play opener will also pit two of the best liberos at the tournament against each other. U.S. libero Andrew Sato, a Long Beach State incoming freshman recruit, is ninth at the World Championship with a 3.00 digs per game average, while Iran libero Abolfazl Gholipour is fourth through the first round averaging 3.50 digs per game.