Shock win for Kifissia in Piraeus
Kifissia produced the upset of the week in the volleyball league, defeating champion Olympiakos 3-2 away on February 12, in an otherwise predictable 15th round of games.
The Reds were fresh from their 3-0 win at league leaders Iraklis five days earlier, but came up against a determined Kifissia that took the first set 25-16.
Olympiakos came back to win the second set 25-23, but Kifissia edged ahead again, landing the third 25-21. The visitors gave up the fourth set, which Olympiakos took 25-14, focusing instead on the tie-break which they took with a 15-11 score for an important victory.
Iraklis maintained its one-point lead at the top from Panathinaikos, thrashing neighboring Apollon Kalamarias 3-0 away (25-22, 25-15, 28-26).
Panathinaikos also won at Thessaloniki, defeating Epikouros Polichnis 3-1 (27-25, 23-25, 25-17, 25-23).
PAOK overturned a 2-0 deficit to beat Aris 3-2 away on February 11, showing that it has rebounded after a bad spell. PAOK won 24-26, 17-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-23 to collect two significant points in the race for a top-four finish.
Its main rival, EA Patras thrashed visiting Ethnikos Alexandroupolis 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-20) three days after qualifying to the semifinals of Europe’s Challenge Cup. EAP was the only home team to win in this round of games.
Finally, Lamia dismissed host Panellinios 3-0 (25-22, 30-28, 25-21), making survival at the top flight even more difficult for the Kypseli club.