By Sachit Subba • Volleyball • Sep 06, 2026 15:52 PM • 24 views
On Sunday, Karnali Shivraj cemented their dominance in the Xtreme Energy Drinks Nepal Volleyball League (NVL) by defeating the Khaptad Falcons without losing a set and keeping their record unblemished. Earlier that day, the Annapurna Spiker Kings recovered strongly from their first-day loss and secured their first win of the tournament by thoroughly beating the Kathmandu Reds. The double-header at the National Sports Council (NSC) Covered Hall had a major effect on the course of Nepal's first-ever men's franchise volleyball tournament.
The afternoon action began with a closely fought match that kept spectators tense. The Annapurna Spiker Kings defeated the Kathmandu Reds 3-0, although the score suggested a one-sided result. In fact, the match was extremely close, with the Spiker Kings winning 25-23, 28-26 and 25-23 and surviving fierce rallies at the end of each set.
Uranbayar provided strong support for Annapurna by launching continuous attacks from the baseline and making key blocks, which earned him Player of the Match. His performance had a stimulating effect on the team. This important win erased the disappointment of their 3-1 defeat on the first day against Karnali Shivraj. By contrast, the loss halted the Kathmandu Reds' progress. The Reds had entered the match in a positive mood after their hard-fought 3-2 win over the Madhesh Warriors, but they could not find the necessary touch against the tenacious Annapurna defence.
Later in the evening, Karnali Shivraj gave a lesson in volleyball tactics against a struggling Khaptad Falcons team. Karnali dismantled their opponents with sharp, careful play, winning three straight sets 25-19 to complete the 3-0 sweep. They set the pace from the first serve and never allowed Khaptad to build any big scoring runs.
This flawless performance earned Karnali three important points, bringing their tournament total to six after two straight wins. They now have a firm hold on their own fate. The Falcons, on the other hand, remain at the bottom of the table. Unable to score any points in their record, Khaptad must quickly reorganise after two consecutive losses if they want any chance of saving their campaign.
This first edition of the NVL, organised by the Kedia Group, marks a significant turning point in domestic sports and is the first men's franchise league in Nepali volleyball history. The organisers have placed great importance on the tournament, offering the winning team a cash prize of two million rupees—the largest sum ever awarded in Nepali volleyball history.
The six franchises taking part will compete against one another in a tough single round-robin tournament through Bhadra 27. Under the current format, the team that finishes first will secure an automatic spot in the final. Meanwhile, the teams that finish in second and third place will play a high-stakes playoff to decide the second finalist.
On Monday, the competition is expected to heat up. The Madhesh Warriors will play the Annapurna Spiker Kings in a key match, shortly before the undefeated Karnali Shivraj faces a major challenge from the Sagarmatha Smashers.
