Greece W vs Austria W

Austria seized control early in Set 1. The partials (3-8, 10-16, 14-21) show a side dictating tempo from the start, but Greece tightened defensively in Set 2. At 8-5 in the second set, Greece began pulling away, levelling the match at 1-1 with a 25-18 win.

The decisive shift came in Set 3. Greece raced to an 8-3 lead at the first technical timeout, extended to 16-7 at the second, and closed out 25-12 in just 22 minutes — the quickest set of the match. The 13-point margin reflected sustained service pressure and near-total neutralisation of the Austrian attack that had been effective in the opener.

Set 4 followed the same script: Greece led 8-7, then 16-11, and sealed the match 25-14 in another 22-minute set.

Greece’s response after losing Set 1 was emphatic and tactical. Between Sets 2 and 4, they outscored Austria 75-44. Set 3 (25-12) was the signature: Austria managed only 12 points, their lowest in any Pool B set across the tournament. Greece’s block-and-dig system, anchored by improving defensive reads, neutralised Austria’s transition offence. Crucially, Greece's service run in the third set — producing multiple aces — created the transition opportunities they converted ruthlessly.

Martha Evdokia Anthouli (Greece) was named the match’s top scorer with 20 points (9 break points), including 16 winning spikes. She was the engine of Greece’s attack across all four sets, per CEV match statistics.

Eirini Chatzielfstratiadou (Greece) added 13 points (7 break points), providing crucial secondary scoring on the right side.

Markella Papageorgiou (Greece) contributed 11 points (8 break points), including effective blocking at the net.

Kora Schaberl (Austria) was Austria’s standout with 14 points (6 break points), leading her team’s scoring alongside Carmen Raab (11 points, 5 break points). Schaberl was effective in the opening set but found fewer opportunities as Greece’s block tightened.

Player of the match: Martha Evdokia Anthouli (Greece) — 20 points, match-high scorer.

The set-by-set scoring tells a clear story: Austria’s 25-20 opening-set win was built on a consistent lead at every technical timeout, but they could not sustain that level. Total points: Greece 95, Austria 69 — a 26-point Greek advantage. Only 5 of those points came in Set 1; the remaining 21-point margin was built across Sets 2–4, peaking in Set 3 (13-point gap). Match duration (100 minutes across four sets) suggests a clean, flowing contest with few extended rallies. Greece’s strongest set was the shortest (22 minutes), indicating efficient transition play.

Greece moved to three wins in Pool B — having beaten Ukraine 3-2 (22 August) and Bulgaria 3-1 (23 August), with their only loss coming against hosts Czechia 1-3 (21 August). Austria remained winless after losses to Serbia 0-3 (21 August), Czechia 0-3 (22 August) and Ukraine 0-3 (24 August). Greece next face Serbia on 26 August, while Austria take on Czechia on 26 August. With the top four teams in Pool B advancing to the final round, Greece are well positioned; Austria need a result against Czechia to stay alive.

Greece’s response after dropping the first set was emphatic and complete. Austria’s inability to score past 18 points in any set after the opener exposes a gap in depth against a side that adjusted tactically after a single rotation. With Martha Anthouli in her current form, Greece look a live contender for a knockout berth. Austria face a must-win scenario against Czechia.

• Competition: CEV Trendyol EuroVolley 2026 Women — Pool B
• Date: 25 August 2026
• Venue: Brno Exhibition Centre — The Pavilion P, Brno, Czechia
• Attendance: 1,485
• Referees: BÁTKAI-KATONA Ágnes, HAYAUX DU TILLY Mathilde
• Scores: 20-25, 25-18, 25-12, 25-14
• Duration: 100 minutes (30’, 26’, 22’, 22’)