Legendary turnaround in another match and Olympiacos lead the title!

Olympiacos took the title lead!



By making one mythical twistthe “red and white” prevailed 3-2 sets of PAOK in “Melina Merkouri”, in an improbable match full of emotions and great battles until the final, as we were used to by the two finalists in the previous games between them.

Despite the fact that Alberto Giuliani’s team found themselves with their backs to the… wall, with the “Two-Headed of the North” ahead 2-0 set, however, the Piraeus pulled out legendary reaction and thanks to their good block, but also the quartet of Hidalgo, Stern, Koumendakis and Payenk did 2-1 in the series, and now they are one more step away from winning the Volley League title!

Now, the series is transferred to Thessaloniki, where it comes from Friday (28/04, 19:15)PAOK will aim in front of their home crowd in Pylaia to level the series in Game 4 and stay alive in the title hunt, with Olympiacos on the other hand having the sole goal of winning the title.

The match:

Olympic and PAOK picked up where they had left off in Pylaia three nights ago, as both teams entered the match very strongly, settling the score early in the first set (7-7). The “Two-Headed of the North” found solutions from his block, taking a three-point lead (8-11), while, a little later, Hidalgo’s lost serve brought +4 for the visitors (10-14).

The answer of Olympiakos was immediate, and taking advantage of the mistakes of Rapti and Skentrau, as well as Payenk’s nail in the first period, it was reduced to a point (15-16). PAOK continued to have the lead with +3 for 21-18 and 22-19, with Olympiacos reducing again (21-22). Two collected points by Raptis brought PAOK to 24-22, with the hosts “erasing” three sets of bowls after 2 mistakes by PAOK and going ahead 26-25. Neither team laid down their weapons and after epic defenses and attacks, but also 4 lost bowl sets for Olympiakos and three for PAOK, the Thessalonians won the first set with hearty 34-32!

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PAOK entered with high spirits in the second setwhere with Rapti’s points and Van den Dries’ two aces he escaped with 4 for the 6-2. The “red and white” found solutions from the serve, but also their block and with Koumendakis and Hidalgo in the foreground, they ran a 7-2 individual series for the overtaking (9-8)!

With Walls constantly opting to play at right cross with Dan DriesPAOK went ahead with 6 points in a row of the Dutchman for 14-13. From then on, the two teams went hand in hand in scoring until 18-17. At that point, Josko Milenkowski’s team found four points from the block her, and with him Tailor to come forward and lead in scoring (3 blocks one nail), PAOK went on a 6-0 run for 23-18. The visitors maintained control in the final possessions, winning it set with 25-20 for 2-0.

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With accumulated errors from both teams started the third set, with Olympiakos being the one who found solutions in the offensive part and thanks to Hidalgo and Payenk, led 8-5. Although both were consumed in succession missed servesAlberto Giuliani’s team escaped for the first time in the match with +5 for 13-8 with two collected points by Koumendakis.

Playing with a clear mind and correct choices on placements in the block, the Piraeus maintained the lead of 4-5 points. By Papagelopoulos playing twice in the first year and Hidalgo finding an ace, they led 21-16, while, shortly after Koumendakis sent the difference at +6 (22-16). The hosts had no difficulty in closing the set and to reduce to 2-1, mastering it with a score of 25-21.

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Olympiacos entered with… acquired speed in fourth set, there where again the their “red and white” wall near the net was his big “weapon” at the beginning of the set, leading 9-3. In fact, a little later, the excellent finishes of Koumendakis and Papagelopoulos increased the difference to a double-score for 12-6.

Then, PAOK got a “pulse” after an hour, reducing the difference to four (18-14), with points, which however came from opponent mistakes. In fact, the “Two-Headed Man of the North” with two consecutive ones Rapti’s ace cut it to 23-21without however being able to turn the situation around, with Olympiakos taking fourth place set with 25-21sending the match to tie-break!

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The “red and white” entered very strongly in the fifth and final set, finding four unanswered points (4-0). Raptis and Voulkidis answered for PAOK, reducing the difference to a point (7-6), before Hidalgo took action and with strong and heavy hits brought Olympiacos to 13-9, with Koumendakis’ block shortly after signing a huge reversal for the final 15-11.

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More in a while…

The sets: 32-34, 20-25, 25-21, 25-21, 15-11.

See it here Live of the race.