But at the time when Panathinaikos had many points of reference (Karkases, Atkinson, Grotes, Samandan were like in the third final with the only difference being Croatia’s zero blocks) the red and whites only had Mleinkova and with few outbursts Nizetich.
Koumbura was again a shadow of herself with zero points (she got 12, but lost 3 serves, had as many blocks and made 6 more attacks) and the fact that with only the Czech to fight, she managed to take the other sets to … point is a success.
Glomex Player(eexbs1jkdkewvzn, v-d0sid746ea6h)
But having lost a huge two-win advantage and with the momentum now with their opponent, Olympiacos will have to do a lot more if they are not to experience the first upset in their title streak since 2013 (when they were trailing by 2 -0 from AEK – they counted the results of the regular season – and he took it by making a 3-0 streak in the finals).
In the first set, Panathinaikos started better with pressure on the serve and a well-set block-defense. Olympiacos never found a rhythm, especially in attack after the good serving of the home team, suffered several errors and it became a 1-0 set 25-15 after 24 minutes.
The two teams went hand in hand in the second set. Panathinaikos managed to escape with two points (13-11, 15-13, 19-17, 21-19) but Olympiacos with Mleinkova found solutions to stay in the set. With Samandan receiving and attacking it was 23-21, Nizetich reduced it to 23-22 but Karkases took the side out for 24-22. Mleinkova, who was also the top scorer for Olympiakos, reduced the score to 24-23, Nesic called a timeout and after a period of time, Atkinson with a nail on the long cross made it 25-23 for the 2-0 set.
Olympiacos reacted in the third set and, with Mleinkova as the protagonist, took a 7-11 lead. With Atkinson’s ace, Panathinaikos equalized at 12-12, but again the red and white team escaped with +3 thanks to Koumboura’s attack (14-17). Karkases with a block in Koumboura brought the set back to level (18-18), so that Panathinaikos went ahead with 20-19 after a great defense and finish by Atkinson. With Samandan, the greens were at +2 (23-21), but Mleinkova and Carraro had not said their last word. With three points in a row by the Czech winger and the serves of the Italian passer, Olympiacos went ahead in the score (23-24) to follow a bad attack by Karkases that ended up in the net for 23-25.
In the fourth set, both teams entered the field determined. Panathinaikos, after 11-10 with a server from Karkases, escaped with 15-11, but Olympiacos equalized at 17-17, to go ahead with 17-18 with a counter attack by Nizetich. With an ace by Koumboura, the guests made it 18-20, but shortly after two counterattacks by Atkinson made it 21-20. With the score at 23-21, Olympiacos equalized at 23-23 with an attack by Mleinkova, but in the next phase Atkinson stopped her high in the net for 24-23, to make it 25-23 with a block out by Samadan that was seen by video check requested by Nesic.
The opinion of the bench
Dragan Nesic (Coach of Panathinaikos): “We are playing against a very good opponent and we showed in the first match that we can achieve something good. These finals show that there is a very high standard in the league. We can and will go to claim the 5th final that will also decide the champion and that’s what we will try”.
Lorenzo Micelli (Olympiakos Coach): “Only in the first set we didn’t play at the level we can. There is no disappointment but we are not happy either. From the second set onwards we had our chances with counter attacks. It was a balanced game and every ball mattered. We had a chance for a fifth set but there was contact at 24-23 which was shown on the video check. It makes sense between two teams with different ways of playing but with the same goals to go to a fifth final. I thought it would go to five games for the title because they both deserve it. We invite the public to come to the stadium on Saturday to support us with their voice.”
Fluctuation:
1st set: 8-5, 16-11, 21-12, 25-15
2nd set: 7-8, 16-15, 21-19, 25-23
3rd set: 5-8, 13-16, 21-20, 23-25
4th set: 8-7, 16-13, 21-20, 25-23
The sets: 3-1 (25-15, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23) in 128′
*Panathinaikos’ points came from 2 aces, 58 attacks, 10 blocks and 28 opponent errors and Olympiakos’ points came from 2 aces, 54 attacks, 8 blocks and 22 opponent errors.
PANATHINAIKOS A.O. (Dragan Nesic): Hatziefstratiadou 6 (4/7 ref., 2 blocks), Karkases 20 (17/38 ref., 1 ace, 2 blocks, 33% sub. – 08% excellent), Atkinson 21 (16/46 ref., 1 ace, 4 blocks), Papafotiou 1 (1 block), Samandan 11 (11/22 ff.), Grotous 11 (10/23 ff., 1 block,, 43% sub. – 14% excellent) / Belia (l, 57% sub. – 26% excellent), Fumaki.
OLYMPIACOS S.F.P. (Lorenzo Micelli): Nizetich 4 (10/29 ff., 3 blocks, 66% sub. – 29% excellent), Kararo 3 (3/5 ff.), Emmanouilidou 5 (3/6 ff., 2 blocks), Koumboura 12 (11/ 43 ref., 1 ace), Fariole 8 (6/12 ref., 2 blocks), Mleinkova 23 (21/44 ref., 1 ace, 1 block, 57% sub. – 17% excellent) / Artakianou (l, 71% sub – 36% excellent), Lambrousi, Tsitsigianni, Tanis.
Women’s Volleyball League – Finals
First Final – Saturday 13 April 2024
“Melina Merkouri” Gymnasium Renti, 19.00: Olympiacos S.F.P. – Panathinaikos A.O. 3-2 (25-20, 22-25, 25-09, 21-25, 18-16)
Second Final – Wednesday 17 April 2024
Mets Gymnasium, 17.30: Panathinaikos A.O. – Olympiacos S.F.P. 1-3 (19-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-25)
Third Final – Saturday 20 April 2024
“Melina Merkouri” Gymnasium Renti, 19.00: Olympiacos S.F.P. – Panathinaikos A.O. 0-3 (15-25, 22-25, 20-25)
Fourth Final – Wednesday 24 April 2024
Mets Gymnasium, 17.30: Panathinaikos A.O. – Olympiacos S.F.P. 3-1 (25-15, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23)
Fifth Final – Saturday 27 April 2024
Gym “Melina Merkouri” Renti, -: Olympiacos S.F.P. – Panathinaikos A.O.
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Tags: PAO defeated Olympiakos womens volleyball title decided #5th match
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