Panathinaikos took the first of the three steps needed to reach the title in the Volley League, boasting an astonishing (for a final) 61% success rate in attacks, which could have been even higher if it hadn’t dropped to 39% in the third set.

With their three outside hitters achieving 35/58 attacks (Protopsaltis 10/14, Van Garderen 11/21, Nielsen 14/23), Panathinaikos was the absolute dominant force in the match, despite losing 32 serves, as they excelled in all statistical categories (except for errors).

They even performed better in serving, although Olympiacos had 7 aces compared to 6. Here, the final result is misleading, as 4 of the 7 Olympiacos aces occurred in the third set…

Sets: 3-1 (25-17, 25-20, 16-25, 25-21)

Points for Panathinaikos came from 6 aces, 44 attacks, 9 blocks, and 32 opponent errors, while points for Olympiacos ONEX came from 7 aces, 35 attacks, 4 blocks, and 37 opponent errors.

PANATHINAIKOS (Dimitris Andreopoulos): Van Garderen 12 (9/21 attacks, 1 ace, 1 block, 50% reception – 27% excellent), Elgert 1 (1 block), Gasman 9 (5/9 attacks, 2 aces, 2 blocks), Nielsen 16 (14/23 attacks, 2 blocks), Voulkidis 7 (4/7 attacks, 2 aces, 1 block), Protopsaltis 12 (10/14 attacks, 1 ace, 1 block, 31% reception – 25% excellent) / Handrinos (libero, 41% reception – 35% excellent), Kasabalas, Frangos 2 (2/2 attacks), Kontostathis (libero).

OLYMPIACOS ONEX (Andrea Gardini): Pagent 8 (6/6 attacks, 2 blocks), Perin 15 (12/23 attacks, 3 aces, 47% reception – 47% excellent), Koumentakis 3 (3/13 attacks, 38% reception – 29% excellent), Travitsa 3 (1/1 attack, 1 ace, 1 block), Atanasevich 14 (12/27 attacks, 2 aces), Armenakis / Giavras (libero, 40% reception – 13% excellent), Kostopoulos, Papaggelopoulos 3 (1/1 attack, 1 ace, 1 block).