PAOK played with fire but did not “burn” in Santorini! Marco Fenolio’s team managed to win 3-1 set of AO Thiras for the 21st matchday of the Women’s Volley League, effectively “hugging” the first place in the regular season.
Olympiacos’ show of strength in Fthiotida, which prevailed 3-1 set of Lamia catching Panathinaikos in 3rd place with more matches.
Easy wins for Egaleo and Thetida Voulaswho comfortably defeated ZAON and Ilysiakos in their seats respectively with 3-0 set. In sixth place and definitely in the playoffs, the team of Voula loses the “train” Aegaleo that will compete in the playouts definitively.
The summary of the matches:
In Santorini, despite the initial “numbness” in the first set, PAOK responded by taking a five-point lead (14-9). Then the guests extended their streak, after the reduction of the score by AO Thiras and managed to reach 0-1 with 20-25. In the second set, the variance was shocking with the Santorini team making it difficult for the “double-header of the north” with the score remaining tied (14-14). The home team showed character and managed to equalize after 25-23.
PAOK swept in the next two sets as on the one hand in the third they got big differences reaching 2-1 with an impressive 25-14. while in the fourth they were not deterred by the counterattack of AO Thiras, ending the match with 25-21, for the final 3-1.
Now the “two-headed of the north” turns its attention to the top derby with AEK on April 2.
The sets: 20-25, 25-23, 14-25, 21-25
In Lamia, Olympiacos had a great night with Winters and left with the “double” with a score of 3-1. In the first set the “red and white” were storming, with the block and reception working perfectly and leading them to an easy 25-15 for 0-1.
Lamia reacted in the second set by taking a four-point lead (11-7) and thus caused a “blackout” in Olympiakos. However, Lamia countered the guests, and equalized with 25-18. In the third set, the visitors changed their philosophy and quickly escaped to +5 (3-8), while the excellent block gave them a safety margin of nine points (4-13). Tsitsigianni completed the modest ceremony by scoring 25-12 for Olympiakos’ 2-1.
In the fourth set, Olympiacos was in no mood to take risks and proved it by taking a resounding lead of eight points (9-1). Genitsaridis, with a block out, increased the difference to +10 (6-16), while Tsitsigianni gave “air” 11 points (10-21) to the “red and whites”, who, with a block by Carraro, made it 25-14 and the 3-1 set.
The sets: 15-25, 25-18, 12-25, 14-25
The results and schedule of the 21st matchday:
Saturday 25/3
AO Thiras-PAOK 1-3
Egaleo-ZAON 3-0
Thetida Voulas-Elysiakos 3-0
Lamia-Olympiakos 1-3
Sunday 26/3
AEK-Aris (19:30)
Panathinaikos-Markopoulos (19:15)
The last (22nd) matchday
Sunday 2/4
Aris-Panathinaikos (17:00)
ZAON-Lamia (17:00)
Elysiakos-Aegaleo (17:00)
Markopoulos-Thetida Voulas (17:00)
Olympiacos-AO Thira (17:00)
PAOK-AEK (17:00)
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