07 December 2023

First step for the qualification!

Olympiacos and Dinamo Krasnodar were both determined to win, but after more than two hours of play, the home team claimed a 3-2 victory. The two sides were constantly exchanging the lead in the different sets, which made this matchup a very interesting and emotional one. Melina Merkouri sports hall was full of supporters, cheering up for their favourite team. With this home victory, the ladies of Olympiacos repeated the success of their men’s team, who earlier today beat Gazprom-Ugra SURGUT by 3-0 in the semis of the Challenge Cup as well.

Key action

At the start of the first set, Olympiacos was back with 4-8 in the first technical timeout. The Russian kept the lead and increased the margin to +5 (8-13). Olympiacos didn’t achieve to overturn the set and Dinamo won 25-18.

The Legend started stronger in the second set and a block by Niemer gave a three-point lead in the first timeout. The ‘’Reds’’ continued with the same rhythm, increased the margin to +5 but the Russians reacted and reduced to 10-8. The ‘’Legend’’ kept the control and went with 16-11 in the second timeout. Then, it ran a 9-0 streak and won the second set with 25-14 to tie the game.

The third set was the most balanced one. Olympiacos preceded with 8-7 in the first timeout and 16-14 in the second one. The Russian team replied with a 4-0 run and went ahead 16-18 and 17-21. Olympiacos reacted with a 4-0 streak to equalise 21-21 and 23-23. However, Dinamo won the set and led 2-1.

In the 4th set, Olympiacos started very nervously and was back in the score with 0-6 and 3-8 while Krasnodar did a new 6-0 to reach 5-14. However, our team reacted, overturned the set and won 25-19.

An amazing game was also played in the tie-break with Olympiacos continuing the ups and downs! The "reds" were back 3-8 but replied with a 7-0 run to gain the lead. Dinamo went ahead again (10-11) but Lamprousi scored two consecutive points. The Russian team tied but Niemer did 13-12 for Olympiacos. Giota and Christodoulou scored and Olympiacos did a huge victory.

Match stats:

The sets: 3-2: 18-25 (21'), 25-14 (22'), 23-25 (27'), 25-19 (26'), 15-13 (17')

1st set: 4-8, 11-16, 16-21, 18-25

2nd set: 8-5, 16-11, 21-14, 25-14

3rd set: 8-7, 16-14, 17-21, 23-25

4th set: 3-8, 11-16, 21-16, 25-19

5th set: 3-5, 10-8, 12-11, 15-13

Statistics:

Olympiacos (Branko Kovacevic): Giota 8 (4/8 attacks, 1 ace, 3 blocks), Niemer 16 (12/24 attacks, 1 ace, 3 blocks, 34% pos-24% exc.), Poll 13 (8/33 attacks, 3 aces, 2 blocks, 71% pos-52% exc.), Lamprousi 18 (14/15 attacks, 1 ace, 3 blocks), Christodoulou 4 (1/9 attacks, 2 aces, 1 block), Hippe 29 (24/45 attacks, 4 aces, 1 block), Konomi (L, 32% pos-29% exc.), Vlachaki

Dinamo Krasnodar: Pipunyrova 11 (9/23 attacks, 2 aces), Perepelkina 16 (12/21 attacks, 1 ace, 3 blocks), Nosova 2 (1/2 attacks, 1 block), Podskalnaia 20 (12/23 attacks, 2 aces, 6 blocks), Shashkova 9 (6/20 attacks, 3 blocks, 50% pos – 30% exc.), Smirnova 1 (1/1 attack), Tretyakova (L, 64% pos – 32% exc.), Sperskaite 16 (13/41 attacks, 2 aces, 1 block, 23% pos-13% exc.), Bibina (L), Biarda, Mishagina, Bogovskaia

Quotes:

The Head Coach of the team, Kovacevic said: ‘’It was a very difficult match. At some moments, it seemed that there was no hope for us. We really congratulate our girls and our fans because they did not stop fighting even in the toughest moments. I think we have a good lead before the match in Russia. "

Saskia Hippe said at osfp.gr: "Today it was a crazy game. We played as a team. I think we have done our best game so far. We have always struggled to win to the end. Now we have to go to Russia to prove that we are a better team. Our fans are incredible. For these moments we play, for these moments I love Olympiacos so much, because we have an incredible audience. "

Gina Lamprousi said at osfp.gr: "The truth is that we were back in the score with a big difference in the fourth set. There were many continuous errors in the fourth set and we then tried to cover them. We did it and we came to victory. We have a small lead and we want to win in Russia. The truth is that I have not realized that I played so well, maybe it's the best game I've ever done in Olympiacos. The great atmosphere that the fans created gave me energy.’’