The gold-medal hopes for the United States and the nation’s longest winning streak at the FIVB U21 World Championship are over.
The United States suffered its first loss at the tournament as it lost to Iran 25-21, 25-20, 25-20 in the semifinals on Saturday in China.
Iran in a showdown between two undefeated teams out-hit the United States .403 to .240. This was the first time at the tournament that the United States limited to less than a .240 attack percentage.
Pin-hitter Ali Mombeni finished with a match-high 18 kills on a .361 attack percentage, including having nine kills in the final game of the sweep.
Pepperdine opposite Cole Hartke in the loss led the United States with 10 kills. UCLA outside attacker Sean Kelly also had eight kills, while USC outside attacker Sterling Foley contributed seven kills.
Along with the offensive performance, Hartke had a team-high three blocks.
Three Iran players, though, each had three blocks as the team finished with 10 blocks – three more blocks than the United States.
The United States with this loss will play Czechia in the bronze-medal match on Sunday. Czechia suffered a three-game loss to Italy in the other semifinal match on Saturday.
This will be the second time in the tournament’s history that the United States has reached the bronze-medal match. If the United States wins, it will secure the nation’s first podium finish at the U21 World Championship.