Lidia Stoupel

Intern Reporter

Spring brought many “fresh flowers” for Olympiakos and for the Greek volleyball. In a great game, which continued for 2 hours and a half and had two yellow cards, the longtime enemies Olympiakos and Panathinaikos, kept exchanging the score and finally Olympiakos won with 3:2 (25-23, 22-25, 23-25, 25-20, 17-15). This way the team won its 12^th title in the history of the Cup of Greece – the first cup since 2001 in Xanti and the first volleyball title from the championship since 2003.

The red ones ensured their participation in the Champions League. Their coach Andrei Kristianson has a big contribution about this. After this loss and the ones for the Super Cup on the CEV finals, Panathinaikos will have to focus only on the championship.

The Greek volleyball was also a winner. The indoor stadium in Faliro was full of athletes and volleyball players since the early hours of the day. More than 4000 people celebrated each try of every team to score and proved that the war scenes belong to the past.

Won without Hoff

Olympiakos showed a will for winning. This will did not disappear even after Tom Hoff’s injury in the third set (result was 8-8). The decision of the coach to put in Soultanopoulos and Hristofideli in the third set, when the result was 17-13 was vital for the game. Djouritz, Milkovich and Kournedas played very well too. Unlike Olympiakos, Panathinaikos did not get much help from the bench and from the middle of the fourth set on, they were tired. Andreadis, Deplase, Erp, and Stefanou were playing good but there was no rhythm in their game.

The changes of Kristianson

During the first set Olympiakos was better in their defense. In the second set, Panathinaikos managed to lead the result after the 15^th point but when the score reached 24-22 the referee judged as an out the clear ace of Roumelioti. During the third set, with Agamez’s first hit, Panathinaikos took the lead with 14-10. The changes of Kristianson helped Olympiakos come back in the game by taking the set with 24-23. During the fourth set Olympiakos was ready to win the game. The set ended with 25-20 and this lead to time-break.

Great time-break

The fifth set was a fight because both teams were playing point for point. Olympiakos showed that they are more patient and passionate. The set ended with a point by Milkovich and an out by Erp!

Olympiakos’ points: 3 initial hits, 58 attacks, 10 blockings, 41 mistakes of the opposing team

Panathinaikos’ points: 7 initial hits, 59 attacks, 5 blockings, 37 mistakes of the opposing team