By Sachit Subba • Volleyball • Sep 07, 2026 16:35 PM • 17 views
Karnali Shivraj continued their flawless record in the Nepal Volleyball League on Monday. The squad outlasted the Sagarmatha Smashers 3 to 2 in a gruelling five-set battle at the National Sports Council covered hall in Tripureshwor.
The unbeaten streak nearly ended. Sagarmatha pushed Karnali to the absolute limit before surrendering the final frame. Karnali took the victory with set scores of 25 to 16, 23 to 25, 25 to 23, 19 to 25, and 15 to 9. Marquee player Pahal Gahatraj anchored the Karnali defence and hammered crucial points to secure the win. Officials named him Man of the Match for his dominant court presence. Karnali now holds three consecutive wins. They previously swept Khaptad Falcons 3-0 and overpowered Annapurna 3-1. When you watch this squad play, you see a defensive unit that refuses to collapse under pressure.
Annapurna Spiker Kings found their own rhythm earlier in the day. They dismantled Madhesh Warriors 3-1. Annapurna won the opening frame 25 to 16, dropped a massive second set 29 to 31, and then closed the match 25 to 22 and 25 to 21. Annapurna lost their opening match to Karnali but quickly rebounded. They swept Kathmandu Reds in straight sets before handling Madhesh on Monday. Uranbayar dictated the tempo for Annapurna. He earned his second consecutive Man of the Match award after exploiting gaps in the Madhesh block.
Madhesh Warriors remain anchored at the bottom of the league table. They suffered three straight defeats. Sagarmatha beat them 3 to 1 on opening day, and Kathmandu Reds edged them out 3 to 2 before Annapurna handed them another loss. If Madhesh wants to keep its playoff hopes alive, it needs an immediate turnaround against Khaptad Falcons on Tuesday. Kathmandu Reds will face Sagarmatha in the second fixture on Tuesday.
Six teams compete in a single round-robin format. The table topper advances directly to the final. The second- and third-place squads will battle in a playoff to secure the final championship spot. The prize pool totals NPR 3.2 million. The ultimate champion takes home 2.0 million NPR on Bhadra 27.
