The regular season ended in the A1 division with Iraklis finishing first
and Olympiakos snatching the second spot from Panathinaikos and PAOK at the very end on Saturday.Iraklis defeated Ethnikos Alexandroupolis 3-0 and will now enjoy home advantage throughout the play-offs, where the Thessaloniki side will firstface cross-town rival PAOK.
The latter ended up fourth as their 3-0 loss at Kifissia forced them to lose two places, just a few days after beating Iraklis at home.
Olympiakos managed to finish second after beating Panathinaikos for the fourth time this season, in as many games. Panathinaikos ended up third, which means the two sides will now meet again in the league semifinals, with Olympiakos having home advantage. The play-offs begin on Wednesday, April 6.
Panathinaikos took the first couple of sets and had seven match-points in the third set to win the match at Rendi, but Olympiakos fought back to win the game in the tie-break with a 3-2 score.
Epikouros Polichnis followed Panellinios to the A2 division, despite their 3-2 surprise win at EA Patras, who are again going to represent Greece in the Challenge Cup.
Apollon Kalamarias beat Panellinios 3-0 to maintain their A1 status for one more season, while Lamia saw off Aris 3-1 at home and finished sixth. They will represent Greece in the Balkans Cup.
Finikas Syrou and Pamvochaikos of Vrachati are going up from the A2 division.
Kifissia 3 PAOK 0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-23)
Olympiakos 3 Panathinaikos 2 (14-25, 21-25, 32-30, 25-17, 15-12)
EA Patras 2 Epikouros 3 (25-22, 22-25, 25-20, 17-25, 9-15)
Apollon Kalamarias 3 Panellinios 0 (25-21, 25-23, 28-26)
Iraklis 3 Ethnikos Al. 0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-19)
Lamia 3 Aris 1 (25-17, 25-23, 21-25, 25-18)
Aris 30, Kifissia 29, Ethnikos Al. 21, Apollon K. 20, Epikouros 17, Panellinios 6.
source: SPORTINGREECE
