Olympiacos made history on Wednesday late afternoon as they claimed the title of the 2018 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup – Women after storming to a 3-1 away victory (23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-16) in the second round of the final with titleholders BURSA BBSK of Turkey. Since last week they had lost 2-3 at home, Olympiacos did not have to play a Golden Set to determine the eventual winners of the competition. The ‘’Reds’’ overturned the game making million Olympiacos and Greek fans proud. 

Key action: 

In the first set, Olympiacos started badly and Branko Kovacevic called the first timeout after Bursa’s 3-0. Giota did 7-4 and 8-5. Olympiacos could not take advantage of the counter-attacks and gave Bursa the opportunity to raise the margin to 15-8. The ‘’Reds’’ reduced to 5 points with two consecutive points by Poll and Christodoulou and Hippe did 17-13 and 18-14. Bursa reacted and increased the difference to +6 (20-14). Olympiacos ran a 4-0 streak to approach to two points (20-18). An ace by Christodoulou reduced the difference to a point but Bursa got the set with 25-23. 

Immediate "red-white" equalization!

In the second set, Bursa preceded 3-1 but Olympiacos equalized to 3-3 with an attack by Niemer and took the lead with a point by Christodoulou. The ‘’Reds’’ went ahead with 6-8 in the first technical timeout. A block by Giota increased the margin to +3 (6-9) but Bursa reduced to 8-9. Olympiacos kept the lead until the second timeout with the attacks by Hippe (12-16). Although Bursa reacted and approached to two points, the ‘’Legend’’ replied with the points of Niemer and Hippe (17-21). The Greek team remained dominant and won 20-25 to tie the game. 

It dominated in the 3rd set and won it!

Olympiacos started with the same rhythm in the third set and preceded quickly with 1-3, 2-4 and 3-5. Poll boosted the margin to three points and the ‘’Reds’’ kept this lead with the points of Lambrousi and Giota until the first timeout (5-8). Bursa replied and lowered the difference to a point but Olympiacos was ahead with four points in the second timeout. The rest of the set was amazing for the Greek team running a 7-0 streak (13-23). Bursa replied with a 4-0 run but the ‘’Reds’’ reacted with a point by Hippe. Finally, it won 18-25 and took the lead of the match. 

Glorious moments!

Olympiacos started the fourth set in a similar way. It led 4-1 making the coach of Bursa call the first timeout. Bursa tied the set and went ahead with 6-5. Also, it led with 12-9 before Olympiacos reacted. The ‘’Reds’’ overturned the set and went ahead before the second timeout (14-16). Their performance was fantastic in the rest of the set running a 7-1 streak. Christodoulou scored for 16-24 and Olympiacos won the game and the Challenge with an ace. 

Match Stats: 

The sets: 1-3 (25-23, 20-25, 18-25, 16-25)

1st set: 8-4, 16-10, 21-18, 25-23

2nd set: 6-8, 12-16, 17-21, 20-25

3rd set: 5-8, 12-16, 13-21, 18-25

4th set: 8-7, 14-16, 15-21, 16-25

Statistics: 

Bursa BBSK (Vercesi): Avci, Leys 7 (5/17 attacks, 1 ace, 1 block, 44% pos – 31% exc.), Yildirim 6 (6/22 attacks, 64% pos, 41% exc.), Belien 11 (8/18 attacks, 3 blocks), Karaagac  1 (1 block), Dimitrova 24 (22/56 attacks, 2 blocks), Sarioglou (-L 45% pos, 28% exc.) / Bytsenko, Albayrak 9 (6/14 attacks, 2 aces, 1 block), Ince

Olympiacos (Branko Kovacevic): Giota 8 (5/10 attacks, 3 blocks), Niemer 12 (9/26 attacks, 1 ace, 2 blocks, 38% pos-19% exc.), Poll 15 (9/31 attacks, 4 aces, 2 blocks,  51% pos-31% exc.), Lamprousi 11 (5/12 attacks, 2 aces, 4 blocks), Christodoulou 10 (4/6 attacks, 3 aces, 3 blocks), Hippe 17 (17/45 attacks) 

Olympiacos made history on Wednesday late afternoon as they claimed the title of the 2018 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup – Women after storming to a 3-1 away victory (23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-16) in the second round of the final with titleholders BURSA BBSK of Turkey. Since last week they had lost 2-3 at home, Olympiacos did not have to play a Golden Set to determine the eventual winners of the competition. The ‘’Reds’’ overturned the game making million Olympiacos and Greek fans proud. 

Key action: 

In the first set, Olympiacos started badly and Branko Kovacevic called the first timeout after Bursa’s 3-0. Giota did 7-4 and 8-5. Olympiacos could not take advantage of the counter-attacks and gave Bursa the opportunity to raise the margin to 15-8. The ‘’Reds’’ reduced to 5 points with two consecutive points by Poll and Christodoulou and Hippe did 17-13 and 18-14. Bursa reacted and increased the difference to +6 (20-14). Olympiacos ran a 4-0 streak to approach to two points (20-18). An ace by Christodoulou reduced the difference to a point but Bursa got the set with 25-23. 

Immediate "red-white" equalization!

In the second set, Bursa preceded 3-1 but Olympiacos equalized to 3-3 with an attack by Niemer and took the lead with a point by Christodoulou. The ‘’Reds’’ went ahead with 6-8 in the first technical timeout. A block by Giota increased the margin to +3 (6-9) but Bursa reduced to 8-9. Olympiacos kept the lead until the second timeout with the attacks by Hippe (12-16). Although Bursa reacted and approached to two points, the ‘’Legend’’ replied with the points of Niemer and Hippe (17-21). The Greek team remained dominant and won 20-25 to tie the game. 

It dominated in the 3rd set and won it!

Olympiacos started with the same rhythm in the third set and preceded quickly with 1-3, 2-4 and 3-5. Poll boosted the margin to three points and the ‘’Reds’’ kept this lead with the points of Lambrousi and Giota until the first timeout (5-8). Bursa replied and lowered the difference to a point but Olympiacos was ahead with four points in the second timeout. The rest of the set was amazing for the Greek team running a 7-0 streak (13-23). Bursa replied with a 4-0 run but the ‘’Reds’’ reacted with a point by Hippe. Finally, it won 18-25 and took the lead of the match. 

Glorious moments!

Olympiacos started the fourth set in a similar way. It led 4-1 making the coach of Bursa call the first timeout. Bursa tied the set and went ahead with 6-5. Also, it led with 12-9 before Olympiacos reacted. The ‘’Reds’’ overturned the set and went ahead before the second timeout (14-16). Their performance was fantastic in the rest of the set running a 7-1 streak. Christodoulou scored for 16-24 and Olympiacos won the game and the Challenge with an ace. 

Match Stats: 

The sets: 1-3 (25-23, 20-25, 18-25, 16-25)

1st set: 8-4, 16-10, 21-18, 25-23

2nd set: 6-8, 12-16, 17-21, 20-25

3rd set: 5-8, 12-16, 13-21, 18-25

4th set: 8-7, 14-16, 15-21, 16-25

Statistics: 

Bursa BBSK (Vercesi): Avci, Leys 7 (5/17 attacks, 1 ace, 1 block, 44% pos – 31% exc.), Yildirim 6 (6/22 attacks, 64% pos, 41% exc.), Belien 11 (8/18 attacks, 3 blocks), Karaagac  1 (1 block), Dimitrova 24 (22/56 attacks, 2 blocks), Sarioglou (-L 45% pos, 28% exc.) / Bytsenko, Albayrak 9 (6/14 attacks, 2 aces, 1 block), Ince

Olympiacos (Branko Kovacevic): Giota 8 (5/10 attacks, 3 blocks), Niemer 12 (9/26 attacks, 1 ace, 2 blocks, 38% pos-19% exc.), Poll 15 (9/31 attacks, 4 aces, 2 blocks,  51% pos-31% exc.), Lamprousi 11 (5/12 attacks, 2 aces, 4 blocks), Christodoulou 10 (4/6 attacks, 3 aces, 3 blocks), Hippe 17 (17/45 attacks)