Kathmandu, September 10
Under the Nepal Volleyball League (NVL), the final three matches of the league stage are being played today. These matches will decide which team finishes on top and goes straight to the final, and which teams must go through the playoffs to reach it.
All six teams in the league will play their last league-stage match on the same day. Of the six participating teams, the top-ranked ones will remain in contention for the final, while the bottom three will be eliminated from the league stage.
Four teams are currently in the running for the top three spots: Annapurna Spiker Kings, Karnali Shivraj, Kathmandu Reds, and Sagarmatha Smashers. After four matches each, Annapurna leads with 9 points, Karnali and Kathmandu are tied on 8 points each, and Sagarmatha has 7 points.
Madhesh Warriors sit fifth with 4 points, and Khaptad Falcons are sixth with no points; both have already been eliminated from contention for the top three.
Result does each team need
The first match on Thursday will be between Annapurna and Sagarmatha, starting at 1 pm. Table-topping Annapurna is a strong contender to reach the final directly.
Riding a three-match winning streak, Annapurna will go straight to the final if they beat Sagarmatha in straight sets or by a 3–1 margin, in that case, they won’t need to wait for the results of the other matches.
If Sagarmatha wins instead, Annapurna will be pushed into the playoffs.
If Annapurna loses, their fate will depend on the results of the other matches. If Annapurna loses in a five-set match, they will still enter the playoffs.
For Sagarmatha, this match is do-or-die; if they lose to Annapurna, they will be knocked out of contention for the top three.
The second match, between Karnali and Madhesh, starts at 4 pm. This match is also crucial for Karnali; what result Karnali needs will become clearer once the first match concludes.
Currently second with 8 points, Karnali will move to 11 points with a win. For Madhesh, however, this match’s result won’t really matter, since their chances of finishing in the top three are already over.
The final league-stage match, between Kathmandu and Khaptad, starts at 7 pm. Since all other teams will have finished their matches by then, it will be clear exactly what equation Kathmandu needs to navigate.
If Annapurna beats Sagarmatha in the first match, Kathmandu will already be in the playoffs before their own match, and will need to win the playoffs to reach the final.
But if Annapurna loses in the first match and Karnali loses in the second, Kathmandu will have a chance to reach the final directly by winning their own last match.
