In a thrilling match that captivated Saudi volleyball fans, Al-Hilal's first volleyball team secured the top spot in the Premier League after a hard-fought and well-deserved 3-1 victory over their traditional rivals, Al-Ahli. The highly anticipated match, held at the Ministry of Sports Hall in Jeddah as part of the twelfth round of the competition, confirmed Al-Hilal's strong determination to compete for the title this season.
Details of El Clásico and the battle for the top spot
The match was fiercely contested, reflecting the development of Saudi volleyball in recent years. Both teams traded control of the game, but Al-Hilal's experience ultimately proved decisive. With this victory, Al-Hilal increased their points tally to 31, securing first place and widening the gap with their closest rivals. Meanwhile, Al-Ahli's points remained at 27, but they still have hopes of returning to contention, especially since they have a postponed match from the tenth round. This keeps the title race wide open in the upcoming rounds.
Round results and standings of the top teams
The excitement wasn't limited to the Al-Hilal vs. Al-Ahli match; the round also witnessed remarkable results in various arenas:
- Al-Ittihad strengthens its position: At the club's hall in Jeddah, Al-Ittihad continued its strong performances and defeated Al-Khawildiyah in three straight sets (3-0). This victory raised Al-Ittihad's points tally to 24, firmly maintaining its third-place position in the standings, while Al-Khawildiyah remained in seventh place with 5 points.
- Al-Nasr continues its resurgence: In the Eastern Province, specifically in Qatif, Al-Nasr returned with all three points after a decisive 3-0 victory over Al-Ibtisam at Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Hall. Al-Nasr raised its points tally to 18, narrowing the gap with Al-Ula, currently in fourth place, to just two points, thus intensifying the competition for a top-four finish. Meanwhile, Al-Ibtisam continues to struggle at the bottom of the standings with only one point.
- Al-Fateh surpasses Al-Ula: In Medina, Al-Fateh achieved an important victory over Al-Ula with a score of (3-1), raising its tally to 12 points, while Al-Ula’s tally remained frozen at 20 points in fourth place.
Anticipated firefights in March
All eyes will be on Monday, March 2nd, as the postponed matches from the tenth round are completed, potentially shaking up the standings. Al-Nassr will host Al-Ittihad in a classic Riyadh derby, while Al-Ahli will be looking to bounce back from their recent defeat when they host Al-Fateh in Jeddah.
The thirteenth round, scheduled for March 7, will also witness heavyweight clashes, most notably the "Jeddah derby" between Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli, and the Riyadh summit between Al-Nasr and Al-Hilal, in a round that may be decisive in shaping the features of the league champion for this season.
