Men’s Volleyball League: PAOK doubles in Syros, victory for Milonas vs. Kifissia

PAOK celebrated the victory in Syros against Finikas ONEX with 3-1 sets and left open accounts for the 3rd place in the final ranking, which will be judged in the last game where the Syrians play in Maroussi against Panathinaikos and the Thessalonians with Milonas in PAOK become sports arena. PAOK has 25 points against Finikas ONEX’s 26, while in the event of a tie, Syros’ team retained the advantage over the biceps with the set won today.

With dominance in the block and many solutions in attack with the return of Kouklinski, PAOK deservedly defeated the Syros team, who had the great misfortune of losing Dimitris Dzourits, who left with a sprain and injured.

PAOK seemed more ready, surprising Finikas’ defense and going 8-2 with Udris in service. Reaction came mostly from the ends for Finikas, with Michalovic cutting the points down the flank to 7-10. The 3-4 point difference was maintained for most of the set (12-16, 15-19), with the visitors having a good day Kuklinski, who played in place of Barnes. The tie for Finikas came to 22-22 with a nail from Frangos, then it became 24-24, but an attack from Koumentakis and a block from Petreas brought PAOK up to 1-0 at 26-24. Characteristic of the set are the many missed serves for both teams, 5 for Finikas, 7 for PAOK.

The block led PAOK to 2-0

In the next set, it was Finikas’ turn to come in dynamically and take two points from Jerezuelo to make it 5-2. PAOK equalized 6-6 with an attack from Koumentakis and then took the lead with a 4-0 streak from 10-10 to 14-10. Milenkoski made extreme changes, substituting Kapetanidis for Stern and, from time to time, Papadopoulos for Frangos. The “key” of the set and its conquest by PAOK was the block, thanks to which the guests made many counterattacks and scored important points. The 14-19 difference was reduced to 18-20 by Finikas with sustained points and Michalovic to finish most balls, but the visitors were the ones who celebrated the 2-0 with Walsh making it 25-22.

Reception and blocks improved and reduced to 2-1

The third set was the most ambiguous, with neither team escaping significantly on points, while on the Finikas side, the team was heavily renewed, with Papalexiou replacing Costa, who was injured at the start. The hosts led 9-6 and then 15-12, with Kapetanidis giving the team room in both reception and attack, PAOK equalizing with an ace from Walsh at 15-15 to go to 21-21 it further point by point. Finikas had the last word and an attack from Franco and an ace from Jerezuelo reduced the lead to 2-1 with a singles score of 25-22.

Juric injury and defeat

The tension peaked in the fourth set both in play and on both teams’ benches with protests from both sides to the match umpires. Dimitris Dzourits’ ankle injury at 17:19 was decisive for the fourth and final set. The middle of Finikas could not step on his foot and left supported. Tradition came of the team that had been close by then with PAOK (8-10, 15-14, 17-18) and so the North’s biceps made it 3-1 at 25-21.

Finikas – PAOK 1-3

Sets: 1-3 (24-26, 22-25, 25-22, 21-25) in 113′

* The points of Finikas Syros ONEX come from 5 aces, 51 attacks, 3 blocks and 33 errors of the opponents and of PAOK from 6 aces, 54 attacks, 10 blocks and 29 errors of the opponents.

Α.Ο.ΦΟΙΝΙΚΑΣ ΣΥΡΟΥ ΟΝΕΧ (Josko Milenkoski): Michalovic 18 (17/36 fps, 1 ace), Jerusalem 6 (4/7 fps, 1 ace, 1 block), Costa 2 (1 ace, 1 block), Juric 5 (4/7 fps, 1 block), Frangos 15 (15/24 ff., 50% yp. – 28% excellent), star 3 (2/8 ff., 1 ace, 44% yp. – 33% excellent) / Konstantinidis (l, 50% yp. – 31% excellent), Karasavvidis (l, 33% yp. – 33% excellent), Papalexiou 2 (2/2 ff.), Kapetanidis 8 (7/13 ff., 1 ace, 41% yp. – 24% excellent) , Papagelopoulos, Papadopoulos (75% under – 75% excellent).

Π.Α.Ο.Κ. (Yiannis Kalmazidis): Brown 6 (4/11 runs, 1 ace, 1 block), Petreas 7 (5/9 runs, 1 ace, 1 block), Walsh 9 (4/4 runs, 4 aces, 1 block), Koumentakis 14 (14/ 22 ff., 40% min. – 30% excellent), Kuklinski 14 (10/19 ff., 4 blocks, 50% min. – 30% excellent), Udris 20 (17/34 ff., 3 blocks) / Kokkinakis (l, 82% under – 71% excellent), Sotiriou, Gatsis, Takouridis.

Victory and fifth place for Milonas

AONS Milon defeated AOP Kifissias 3-0 in a Volley League Game 9 match to secure 5th place in the final standings and a tie advantage in a tie after Game 10. Nea Smyrni’s team took 5 points while Kifissia stayed on 2 points.

This is Milonas’ best finish in Volley League history, while Kifissia is not in the top five for the first time since the 2013/14 season.

With superiority in attack and block and Kaislasalo, Maciei and Chandrino, Bian to make the difference in the net, Milonas prevailed in the net of Kifissia, falling behind in reception but mainly in attack. It is significant that the first scorer was the central Michali with 11 points.

Kifissia emerged midway through the 1st set as they took a 16-13 lead with Costopoulos’ ace and Ambrao’s counterattack. Milonas responded with a serve from Brian and a 3-0 run at 16-16. Up to the point of 22:22, a new rally followed point for point, but De Veyer lost the serve (23:22) and Brian made it 24:22 with an ace. Michali reduced to 24-23 and Maciei finished the set with 25-23 to 1-0.

From the second set, Milonas began to dominate completely. The rise of Kaislasalo in attack and greater pressure in service gave Milonas a 12-9, 17-12 lead. Kifissia with a series of 3-0 thanks to the service of De Veyer reduced 17-15 and later 22-21 with Linardos’ block. Kifissia’s error and Kaislasalo’s offensive streak brought a 3-0 streak for the 25-21 and 2-0 set.

The 3rd set was also ambiguous up to 12-12. Maciei and Chandrinos took a 14-12 lead. Kaislasalo and Mouchlias increased the difference to 20-16. Kifissia didn’t return any drinks and with the lost service from Costopoulos the game ended 25-21 and 3-0 for Nea Smyrni’s team.

Milon – Kifisia 3-0

The sets: 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-21) in 76′

* Milonas’ points came from opponents’ 5 aces, 36 attacks, 12 blocks and 22 errors and Kifissia came from opponents’ 5 aces, 32 attacks, 7 blocks and 21 errors.

Α.Ο.Ν.Σ. MILON (Sakis Psarras): Mouchlias 3 (1/8ff, 1 ace, 1 block, 47% min – 29% excellent), Chandrinos p. 10 (9/18ff, 1 ace, 63% min – 42% excellent), Brian 11 (5/10 ff., 2 aces, 4 blocks), Urcevic 2 (1/1 ff., 1 block), Kaislasalo 17 (15/33 ff., 1 ace, 1 block), Machie 10 (5/7 ep., 5 blocks) / Chandrinos A. (l, 63% yp. – 42% excellent), Veloudis (l), Dordokidis, Lappas, Tsarkatoglou.

Α.Ο.Π. KIFISIAS (Yiannis Orfanos): De Vier 2 (1 ace, 1 block), Ambrao 5 (5/12ff., 67% min – 40% excellent), Spiliotis 3 (2/3ff, 1 ace), Linardos 8 (4/11ff . ., 4 blocks), Michal 11 (9/25 ff., 1 ace, 1 block), Costopoulos 10 (7/18 ff., 2 aces, 1 block, 36% Yp – 14% excellent) / Kontostathis (l , 86% yp – 64% excellent), Sonakis (l), Papadopoulos, Palaiologos 5 (5/13 ff.).