Never mind eurozone or soccer GRexit, in volleyball it’s GReturn

Greece’s national volleyball team returned to the FIVB World League after a decade of absence with three impressive performances in Mexico last weekend, and stands a good chance for a spot in the third-division Final Four to take place in Slovakia.

Despite being a relatively new team with no experience on this level, the Greeks managed to twice overturn a 2-0 set deficit, against host Mexico and Slovakia and win 3-2 on Friday and on Sunday respectively, while leaving incomplete their other comeback, as they overturned a 1-0 deficit to China to lead 2-1 before eventually losing 3-2 on Saturday.

The results of the first half of the preliminary round in Greece’s pool mean that the national team has collected five points from three games.

Crucially, Greece will have home advantage in the latter half of the round as it will host it in Thessaloniki this coming weekend (June 19-21). As things stand if Greece manages to beat China at the Nick Galis Hall it should make the Final Four of its division.

The addition of setter Dima Filipov to the roster has improved Greece’s game, while opposite Mitar Djuric – arguably Greece’s top player – will have recovered from his injury to play in Thessaloniki.