It took Panathinaikos just under an hour – 57 minutes – to defeat the decimated OFI in Heraklion with a 3-0 set in the inaugural Volley League. The Greens played with a composition, without changes and for the first time in the basic formation, Xenophon Grumousas started as the main libero.

OFI was unlucky to play with two missing key athletes who, although asymptomatic, tested positive for the coronavirus in the rapid tests that preceded the game 24 hours before the start of the game. They are Brazilian passer Enrique Adami and Botswana diagonal Igobe Shikuku.

Grigoris Bardakjian played as a key passer. Diagonal in the first and third sets winger Nikos Gonas and in the second set Dimitris Tsalikian, but the gap in attack was finally closed by Ambrao, who was hopelessly alone.

As can be seen from the fluctuation, Panathinaikos was never threatened during the game. Kovar and Hernandez each scored 14 points and were outstanding offensively for last year’s champions.

In the first set with a block by Rangel, Panathinaikos escaped 12-7, OFI lost to Hira 13-14 while Vaiopoulos equalized 17-17. A 3-0 run from Kovar, Frago, Panathinaikos saw him take a 20-17 lead before Petraeus served to finish the set with a 4-0 run at 25-19.

In the second set, Panathinaikos escaped Jacobsen’s serve 16-5 with a long 7-0 run and the set ended with a point from Kovar at 25-16.

In the 3rd set, OFI struggled to 9-11 when they lost to Ambrao, but from there Panathinaikos held the difference with Kovar and Hernandez and achieved the win.

Fluctuation:

• 1st set: 5-8, 13-16, 18-21, 19-25
• 2nd set: 4-8, 05-16, 10-21, 16-25
• 3rd set: 5-8, 10-16, 15-21, 19-25

*OFI’s points came from: 4 aces, 19 attacks, 6 blocks, 25 opponent errors and Panathinaikos AO came from: 4 aces, 49 attacks, 7 blocks, 15 opponent errors.

The sets: 0-3 (19-25, 16-25, 19-25) in 52 minutes

OFH (Kostas Delikostas): Jarvis5p. (4/15f., 1 block, 36%f., 9%f.), Widow 6 (1/1f., 4 blocks, 1 ace), Bardakjian, Vaiopoulos 2 (0/6f., 1 block, 1 ace ), Gonas 6 (5/16f., 1 ace), Ambrao 9 (8/34f., 1 ace, 50%f., 25%nr.) / Tsadimas (l. – 45%f., 20%f. ) , Arabopoulos, Tsalikian 1 (1st/5th floor), Kafantaris.

PANATHINAIKOS AO (Dimitris Andreopoulos): Kovar 14 (13/24f., 1 block, 79%f., 50%f.), Petraeus 6 (3/4f., 2 blocks, 1 ace), Jacobsen 4 (3/5f., 1 ace) l. – 67% of the population, 17% of the population).

The program and the results of the 1st match day

Saturday 22 October 2022

• AOP Kifisias – FES Aristotle Skydras 3-0
• AO Finikas Syros ONEX – AS Athlos Orestiada 3-0
• PAOK—Pegasus Polichnis 3-0

Sunday 23 October 2022

• 18.00: OFI – Panathinaikos AO

Monday 24 October 2022

• 16.00: AONS Milos – Olympiacos SFP

Next match day

Saturday 29.10

• 16:30 Panathinaikos – PAOK
• 17:00: Kifisia – OFI
• 19:00 Pegasos Polichni – Milos
• 21:30 Olympiakos – Finikas Syros

Sunday 30.10

• 6:00 p.m.: Aristotelis Skydras – Athlos Orestiadas