In a thrilling game that was decided in the details and finished shortly after midnight, Markopoulos came through with 3-2 sets from the headquarters of Thetida Voula and remained invincibility in the Women’s Volleyball League Championship. The Mediterranean team achieved their third victory in the tiebreak, reaching 6 points and continuing their impressive run.
On the contrary, Thetida was not able to celebrate its first victory of the year at its “home”, knowing its second defeat in the fifth set and third overall.
The start of Markopoulos in the first set was excellent, as with the consecutive aces of Marmen he led very quickly with 1-7. The visitors continued at the same pace, taking a 4-9 lead thanks to their block and not letting Thetida get any closer. Markopoulos got up to 9-17 with an attack from Johnson and 12-21 with an ace from Spanou, to close the first set with 13-25 thanks to an ace from Kathariou.
Thetida, in the second set, entered determined to change the scene and took a 6-3 lead thanks to Nikologianni’s good serves. Markopoulos equalized (6-6) after an error by Palak, with the Voula team taking a new lead at 9-7 with a block by Uterbak. The difference increased to 14-8 thanks to Palak’s good serves, with Thetida reaching 17-10 with Nikologianni’s counter ball. The team of Yiannis Nikolakis led by as many as eight points (21-14) against Uterback, showing that they were in complete control of this set. Markopoulos made a last ditch effort, falling to 22-18 with Kotsara and 23-21 with Johnson. But there Nikologianni made it 24-21, giving her team a set bowl, with Ferreira making it 25-21, equalizing for the Voula team.
In the third set, after 9-10, the continuation belonged to Markopoulos, who took advantage of Thetida’s mistakes and with Johnson taking the brunt of the attack, the score became 18-23. With Nicologiannis serving and two consecutive aces, Voula’s team reduced to 22-23, but again Johnson provided the solution (22-24). Clarke, after a period of time, erased the first set of bowls, but then the American lost her serve for 23-25.
In the fourth set, Thetida entered determined to send the game to the tiebreak. With Nicologiannis as the protagonist, pressure on the serve and a well-set block, Thetida gained a double-digit difference in the set and with an attack by the international winger it became 25-16 for 2-2 in the sets.
The twist happened in the tie break, with Thetida leading 3-0 and 5-3, but Markopoulos and Kathariou went ahead 5-6. After a mistake by the Mediterranean team (four balls), Thetida escaped again with +2 (10-8), but the guests reacted again and with a block by Walker it became 10-11. Nikologianni missed the attack for 11-13, Spanou blocked Uterback for 11-14 and then Johnson with an ace ended the match for 11-15.
Referees: Kyriopoulou, Katerli Observer: Diamantopoulos Supervisors: Dimopoulos, Ventras Secretariat: Charitou
Fluctuation:
1st set: 2-8, 8-16, 12-21, 13-25
2nd set: 8-7, 16-10, 21-14, 25-21
3rd set: 7-8, 12-16, 15-21, 23-25
4th set: 8-5, 16-7, 21-12, 25-16
5th set: 5-3, 7-8, 11-12, 11-15
The sets: 2-3 (13-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-16, 11-15)
A.S.P. THETIS (Yiannis Nikolakis): Ferreira, Palag, Matsarokis, Uterbak, Vlahaki, Clark / Maniatogianni (l), Nikologianni, Garofalaki, Kyparissi.
A.O. MARKOPOULOU REVOIL (Elena Kanellopoulou): Grabowska, Spanou, Walker, Marmen, Kathariou, Johnson / Dimos (l), Kotsaras, Allayiannis, Karagoutis, Logaras.
The opinion of the bench
Yannis Nikolakis (A.S.P. Thetis): “It was a good game and, as always in tiebreaks, many factors play a role – luck, personality… It’s the second game we’ve lost in the 5th set and I’m not satisfied. In the first game, at home, against Markopoulos – who have won big – we also had chances. On the other hand, when you get the chance to take the third set, you have to take it. We must be calm and composed. The road is long. We fell behind in some factors, while Markopoulos came with a good mentality. We will also work on this area, because this is not our image. Patience, work and we’re moving forward.”
Asimina Nikologianni (A.S.P. Thetis): “We wronged ourselves. We are working hard, but we are off to a bad start. This image does not represent us. Congratulations to Markopoulos. We continue and we will fight, because the championship is big and nothing has been decided”.
Elena Kanellopoulou (A.O. Markopoulou Revoil): “I want to say goodbye to our coach Giorgos Rousis. I hope he was happy with the result and with the team. We have a great run and we are trying hard. We work hard and the results justify us. Thetida is a very good team, who wanted the victory, but we proved worthy of the expectations. Psychology helps us to acquire identity and character and this will be seen in the future as well.”
Anna Spanou (A.O. Markopoulou Revoil): “I was upset that we lost a point. We didn’t play that well, but a win is a win. We had a tough week – our coach and assistant were missing due to health issues – and we managed without them. We are sending strength, we have missed them and we are happy for the victory. We received many chances, but we persevered and we continue.”
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