Elitsa Vasileva-Atanasijevic led Panionios to a historic triumph after the team from Nea Smyrni won its first Greek Cup in its history. In the dramatic final in Chalkida, Panionios defeated AO Thira 3:1 (25:17, 25:15, 25:27, 25:20) and recorded the greatest success in its club history.
Vasileva played a key role in the "blue-reds'" success. The Bulgarian outside hitter scored 17 points (34% attack efficiency), was extremely effective at the net with 5 blocks, and also contributed with reception stability (62% positive, 24% perfect) during the most tense moments of the match.
Panionios played a strong tactical match and dominated at the net, which proved to be the decisive advantage against AO Thira.
| Team | Aces | Attacks | Blocks | Opponent Errors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AO Thira | 5 | 53 | 8 | 13 |
| Panionios | 5 | 50 | 22 | 23 |
The statistics clearly show where the final was won. The huge difference in blocks
– 22 against 8
– decisively tipped the scales in favor of Panionios. It was the strong play at the net that allowed Elitsa Vasileva-Atanasijevic's team to control the first two sets and lay the foundation for their success.
After Panionios' convincing start, AO Thira managed to get back into the match in the third set. The team from the Cyclades saved two match points and reduced the deficit after a 27:25 win, keeping the suspense alive.
In the fourth set, however, Panionios once again imposed its rhythm and closed out the final with a 25:20 score, with Polina Rahimova scoring the decisive points.
Panionios held the initiative for most of the match. The only hesitation came in the third set, but in the fourth, the team stabilized its play again and closed out the match.
Panionios' triumph comes just two weeks after an unexpected coaching change. Former Bulgaria national team coach Dragan Nesic, who led the team during the season, surprisingly left the club.
Despite this change, the team did not waver. On the contrary, Panionios showed character and stability, and the new coach Yunus Öcal managed to maintain the team's balance and lead them to the historic trophy.
Libero Martina Xanthopoulou was chosen as the MVP of the final, having made a series of impressive defensive saves and playing a huge role in the team's defensive stability.
For Panionios, this success remains their first Greek Cup, and for Elitsa Vasileva
– another great moment in her career and further proof of the strong presence of Bulgarian volleyball players on the international stage.
photo:Panionios Betsson Volley Women
