(Asiad) S. Korea suffers 1st loss to China in men's volleyball; Iran up next in quarters

NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea lost to China in a five-set thriller in men's volleyball at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Tuesday, a result that set up a daunting knockout contest against the mighty Iran.

China came out on top in the final Pool D match by the score of 3-2 (25-27, 25-23, 25-21, 22-25, 15-12) at Park Arena Komaki in Komaki, just north of the main host city, Nagoya.

Before their showdown, both countries had booked their tickets to the quarterfinals as the top two teams in their group and were battling for the top seed.

With this loss, South Korea finished as the runner-up in Pool D and will face the Pool B winner Iran, the three-time defending champion, in the quarterfinals. That match will start at 1 p.m. Thursday at Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium in Okazaki, some 35 kilometers southeast of Nagoya.

South Korea took the opening set, with outside hitter Heo Su-bong leading the attack.

China responded in the second set, closing out the frame with a block and a serve ace. In another tight battle in the third set, South Korea did not score after getting to within 22-21.

South Korea extended the match by winning the fourth set, despite losing outside hitter Lim Sung-jin to an ankle injury.

South Korea rallied from an 8-4 deficit in the fifth set by scoring four straight points. But down 13-12, South Korea conceded the final two points and the match.

Heo led South Korea with 18 points, including three aces. Middle blocker Lee Sang-hyeon recorded eight blocks as part of his 14 points.