Iceland edge out Georgia in five-set Silver League thriller

Iceland delivered an electric performance on home soil to open their European Silver League campaign with a hard-fought 3-2 victory (25-19, 13-25, 23-25, 28-26, 16-14) over Georgia in Kópavogur. The match, packed with momentum swings and clutch rallies, kept fans on the edge of their seats for nearly two hours.

Heba Sól Stefánsdóttir was the star of the match for Iceland, scoring a match-high 28 points, combining powerful spikes with cool-headed finishing. Lejla Hadziredzepovic followed closely with 19 points, anchoring Iceland’s attack with consistency and grit. Elísabet Einarsdóttir also impressed with 11 points and strong reception work, helping stabilise Iceland’s play when Georgia threatened to pull ahead.

For Georgia, Lizzy Irine Lobzhanidze stood tall with 16 points, including five blocks, asserting herself as both a scoring threat and a defensive wall. Ann Kalandadze chipped in with 18 points, while young standout Magda Kobaidze showcased promise with nine points, including a key run in the fourth set that nearly turned the tide.

The fourth set was arguably the most dramatic of the match. Georgia pushed Iceland to the brink, but it was the hosts who dug deep to snatch the set 28-26. The fifth set saw both sides trading points with nerves of steel, but Iceland ultimately closed it out 16-14, sparking jubilant celebrations on the court.

A quirky stat from the match? Iceland’s libero Rut Ragnarsdóttir recorded zero attack attempts -but had the loudest celebration screams, proving once again that liberos are the unsung hype machines of Volleyball.

With this result, Iceland wins its first Silver League match and will look to build momentum, while Georgia, though narrowly defeated, can take confidence from their fighting spirit and young talent.