We saw another matchup in this year’s Men’s Volley League Championship, where Olympiakos won 3-2 sets against PAOK to take a 2-1 lead in the finals series.

Dikephalos came into play better and led 2-0. The sequel belonged to the red-whites, who skyrocketed their performance and achieved the big upset.

Raphael Koumendakis made another great showing with 20 points, with an impressive 53% in attack (17/32), while Olympiacos had three other players with double-digit points (Stern and Hidalgo 19, Pagenk 18).

On the other hand, the duo Den Dries and Rapti were hopeless with only 27 and 23 points respectively. Now the two teams have extended their date for next Friday.

The match: The first set had it all. Terrible spectacle, reversals, long phases, but also a lot of tension. PAOK started the game better and managed to build a four point difference (9-13).

Olympiacos tried, twice shortening the point, but PAOK won in a bowl set (22-24). Stern and the red-white block extended the set, with Koumendakis giving the red-white the first set bowl with an ace for 26-25.

At this point we had tensions. The people of PAOK protested against anti-national slogans, the team manager (Achilleas Tzikas) was fired and tensions erupted on the way to the dressing room.

The mood settled and the set resumed after a few minutes. The two teams continued their point-to-point battles, with PAOK finishing the set 34-32 after long stretches on either side.

In the second, PAOK emerged stronger and took a 2-6 lead, but Olympiacos responded with a 7-2 of their own to take a 9-8 lead.

Then the two teams went on point by point until the 18-18. At that point, PAOK went on a 5-0 run with the block as their weapon to take a 18-23 lead and then finished the set 20-25.

The third set was a completely different affair than what we had seen in the game before. Olympiacos took on the role of leader from the start and PAOK didn’t come close.

Giuliani’s players were consistently ahead, with the difference even reaching six points (22-16) and going 25-21 to make the 2-1 set.

It was similar in the fourth set. Olympiacos stepped into the role of a driver from the start, taking advantage of the run that PAOK was making with pluralism in attack.

Raptis managed to cut to 23-21 with two aces, but Hidalgo finished off a hard attack and Stern finished the set 25-21 to send the match into a tiebreak.

With morale high, Olympiacos once again stepped foot on the gas and managed to finish the set and match 15-11.

Olympiacos – PAOK 3-2

The sentences: 32-34, 20-25, 25-21, 25-21, 15-11

*Olympiacos’ points came from opponents’ 6 aces, 66 attacks, 15 blocks and 30 errors and PAOK They came from 7 aces, 59 attacks, 15 blocks and 31 opponent errors.

OLYMPIACOS SFP (Alberto Giuliani): Page 18 (14/28 ff., 1 ace, 3 blocks), Star 19 (15/35 ff., 1 ace, 3 blocks), Koumentakis 20 (17/32 ff., 1 ace, 2 blocks, 64% ff .- 58% excellent), Travitsa 2 (1/1 ref., 1 block), Linardos 2 (2 blocks), Hidalgo 19 (15/33 ref., 3 aces, 1 block, 62% sub. – 46% excellent ). ) / Tziavras (l, 53% sub. – 43% excellent), Papagelopoulos 7 (4/6 ff., 3 blocks), Zoupani, Komitoudis.

PAOK (Josko Milenkoski): Giorna 8 (7/19 ref, 1 block, 48% sub – 45% excellent), Walsh 3 (1/3 ref, 2 blocks), Voulkidis 7 (4/8 ref, 1 ace, 2 blocks) , Raptis 23 (16/46 ff., 3 aces, 4 blocks, 32% subst. – 30% excellent), Skredau 11 (7/11 ff., 4 blocks), Van Den Dries 27 (22/48 ff., 3 aces, 2 blocks) / Kokkinakis (l, 43% sub – 43% excellent), Ilias, Sotiriou 1 (1/1 ff.), Gatsis, Butos 1 (1/1 ff.).

The Volley League Finals schedule

1st final – 04/18/2023

• Olympiacos – PAOK 3-1

2nd final 04/22/2023

• PAOK – Olympiacos 3-2

3rd final – 04/25/2023

• Olympiacos – PAOK 3-2

4. Final (if required) 04/28/2023

• 19:15 PAOK – Olympiacos

5. Final (if required) 05/02/2023

• 19:15 Olympiacos – PAOK