Olympiacos comeback in game four to advance to Volley League Finals

Olympiacos came from 2-1 set down to defeat Foinikas Syros 2:3 in game four of the semifinal series and marched on to the finals for a third consecutive season.

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In what looked to be an easy series for the Erythrolefki, the defending champions were troubled but ultimately finished off Foinikas Syros in four games to advance to the Volley League Finals for a third consecutive season. There, they will meet up with PAOK for a fourth time in the last five seasons.

Olympiacos win both games in Piraeus, Foinikas force game four

Olympiacos, who defeated rivals AEK in the first round of the playoffs, got off to an ideal start in the best of five semifinal series as they cruised past Foinikas Syros 3:0 set (25:13, 25:13, 25:18) in game one.

The second game was much more of a contest and that was seen in the first set as it took Olympiacos 29 points to see off Foinikas Syros in the first set (29:27). Olympiacos marched on to an easy 25:15 second set victory before Foinikas surprisingly took the third set 25:20. However, the hosts bounced back and won the third set 25:18 to take a commanding 2:0 series lead.

In a do or die game three for Foinikas, the hosts made a statement by thrashing their opponents 3:0 set. The first set saw Foinikas narrowly win 26:24 before winning sets two and three, 25:20 and 25:21, with a few points to spare.

Olympiacos comeback to win game four

Having momentum from game three, Foinikas Syros came into game four determined to send the series to a ‘winner takes all’ matchup in Piraeus. The hosts held the lead for most of the first set (16:14, 21:18), but a tremendous 7-0 Olympiacos run at the end of the set gave the visitors a 21:25 victory.

Similar to the first set, Foinikas Syros held the advantage midway through the set (16:15, 21:19), but this time managed to hold on until the end for a 25:22 victory. The momentum was on Foinikas Syros’ side and the third set wasn’t much of a contest with the hosts prevailing rather easily 25:18.

However, Olympiacos were not up for a game five and began their comeback in the fourth set. The Erythrolefki took an early lead (7:8, 12:16) and with a late run, won the fourth set rather easily 15:25 to force a fifth set.

In the tie-breaker set, Olympiacos took a narrow lead and never looked back to win 12:15.

by Sarantos Kaperonis

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