AO Thiras took the lead

AO Thiras gained a small qualification lead. The Santorinis defeated Panionios in the Cyclades 3-2 sets in the first match between them for the Women’s Volleyball Challenge Cup qualifiers and go to the rematch in Nea Smyrni next week for a win by any score or a 2-3 loss at worst to claim the “ticket” to the “golden” set.

In the tiebreak, Panionios took a 1-0 lead, but the rest belonged to AOTH, who with Chioga as server and Pavicic as star player, went on a 9-0 run for 9-1. Panionios with Ristisevic went down 12-9 and Serva herself went down 13-12 diagonally. Abbott gave two match points to AO Thiras with 14-12 for Maase to end the match with 15-12.

Fluctuation:

1st set: 8-3, 16-15, 20-21, 23-25

2nd set: 6-8, 12-16, 18-21, 25-23

3rd set: 8-5, 16-9, 21-15, 25-19

4th set: 7-8, 12-16, 12-21, 13-25

5th set: 5-1, 10-2, 12-7, 15-12

*AO Thiras points came from 8 aces, 65 attacks, 9 blocks and 19 opponent errors and Panionio’s points came from 11 aces, 57 attacks, 13 blocks and 23 opponent errors.

The sets: 23-25, 25-23, 25-19, 13-25, 15-12 in 137′

AO THIRAS (Manolis Skoulikaris): Andsante 3 (2/6 ref., 1 ace), Pavicic 15 (12/35 ref., 2 aces, 1 block, 60% sub. – 27% excellent), Maase 24 (22/59 ref., 2 aces), Dimitriadis 7 (5/14 ref., 1 ace, 1 block), Tsioga 16 (9/18 ff., 1 ace, 6 blocks), Abbott 16 (14/39 ff., 1 ace, 1 block, 52% sub. – 21% excellent) / Toulgaridou (l, 43% sub. – 7% excellent), Saulidou (l), Barbaliou, Thomaidou, Genitsaridis, Keramitsopoulou 1 (1/1 ff.)

Panionios (Dragan Nesic): Ristisevic 23 (15/25 ref., 6 aces, 2 blocks, 43% sub. – 25% excellent), Kovalefska, Atanasiewicz 21 (17/56 ref., 1 ace, 3 blocks, 50% sub. – 18% excellent), Lohmanchuk 10 (10/35 ref.), Lamprousi 11 (9/15 ff., 2 aces), Karelia 1 (1/5 ff.) / Xanthopoulou (l, 64% sub. – 18% excellent), Kakuratos (l), Nomikou, Alexakos 6 (2/12 ff., 2 aces, 2 blocks, 47% sub. – 13% excellent), Fliakou 3 (3 blocks), Rakhimova (0/7 ff.)