Greece’s volleyball sides proved to be unstoppable in Europe last week with Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, Iraklis and EA Patras all score victories in their respective competitions.
In the Champions League, Olympiakos defeated lowly Ceske Budejovice 3-0 (25-16, 25-22, 25-19) in the Czech Republic on Wednesday to retain their hopes for qualifying form the group stage.
With two wins in four games (both against Ceske) the Greek champions will need to beat both Dinamo Moscow and Trentino in the two remaining games in order to qualify.
Panathinaikos on the other hand are on the verge of qualifying to the knock-out stages with its 3-1 home win over Italian champions Piacenza (22-25, 25-22, 29-27, 25-20) on Thursday.
The Greens need one win in the remaining two games to advance, although even this may well not bee needed if other results go their way.
In the CEV Cup EA Patras and Iraklis scored 3-0 wins to have all but clinched qualification to the quarterfinals of the competition.
EAP defeated Dutch side Apeldoorn 25-19, 25-23, 25-19 and will need just one set in the return leg in the Netherlands next week.
Iraklis scored a precious away win in Austria over hotVolleys (30-28, 25-21, 25-22) and can already make their plans for the last eight of the CEV Cup.
Meanwhile in the women’s contest, Panathinaikos celebrated a very special night at the “M. Liougas” competition hall in Glyfada.
PAO’s ladies seized their match for the 16th finals of the GM Capital Challenge Cup against their chief rival Olympiakos (3:0, 25-19, 25-23, 25-21).
Panathinaikos performed solidly all the match through and enjoys very good chances to qualify for the next round, waiting for the return game slated for next week.
Coach Takis Floros commented after the match: “The result is very important for us but we can play even better. We progress match after match to get the best out of the girls”.
Captain Rouxana Ntoumitreskou added: “It is a great victory but next week we will not look simply for notching that set that would guarantee us the qualification for the next round. We’ll go for another win.”