Panathinaikos AC Women's Volleyball Team is a Greek volleyball team, part of the major Athens-based multi-sport club Panathinaikos A.O. The department was founded in 1969 and is the most successful women's volleyball team in Greece, in terms of Greek Championships won. They have won a record 27[1] Championships, 6 Cups, with 5 Doubles, while they hold the record for finishing undefeated the Championship 8 times (1971-1973, 1978, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2007). They also hold the record of 68 straight wins in the league including the play-offs.
| Nickname | Fine Girls Amazons | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1926 | ||
| Ground | Mets Indoor Hall (Capacity: 1,200) | ||
| Chairman | Dimitris Vranopoulos | ||
| Head Coach | Alessandro Chiappini | ||
| Captain | Penny Rogka | ||
| League | Greek Women's Volleyball League | ||
| 2025–26 | 1st (Champions) | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
| Championships | 27 | ||
| Uniforms | |||
| |||
In addition, they have reached the European Final Four a total of four times and the European final twice (2000 and 2009). The team currently plays in Maroussi Saint Thomas Indoor Hall.
In 2017, the club was relegated due to serious financial problems. They stayed inactive for the 2017–18 season.
Apart from the Greek players, who have traditionally been the backbone of Greece's national team, some European volleyball players that have played for the team include Ruxandra Dumitrescu, Brižitka Molnar, Tammy Mahon, Jelena Lozancic, Olga Tocko, María Fernández, Sanja Tomasević and others.
The club has retired the jersey number 9 in honour of the team's legendary captain Ruxandra Dumitrescu.
History
editThe women’s volleyball department of the Club was founded in 1926 and is a popular section of the “Shamrock.”
In 1946, it participated in the Central Championship. The coaches were Mike Stergiadis and Christos Svolopoulos, who trained at the court on Tsokha Street.
The first truly organized effort to form a solid team came in 1969, one year before the Hellenic Volleyball Federation was established.
The team’s first coach was Panathinaikos volleyball player Andreas Bergeles, who was later succeeded by Savvas Grozdanovits. The Yugoslav coach worked with the women’s team while simultaneously serving as the men’s team coach.
The team won the Central Championship outright in 1970 and were crowned Greek champions in 1971. The achievements of Panathinaikos and its players became widely recognized when, in the 1980–81 season, the team reached the Final Four of the Confederation Cup in Munich, finishing in 4th place.
In the 1994–95 season, the “Greens” advanced to the Final Four of the Cup Winners’ Cup in Münster, again finishing 4th. In the 1999–2000 season, they made history by competing in the Cup Winners’ Cup in Perugia against the local team.
Their most recent major success came during the 2008–09 season, when they took 2nd place in the Final Four of the Challenge Cup in Jesi, Italy.
In 2008, the women’s volleyball team of Panathinaikos achieved a streak of 55 consecutive wins and 77 consecutive home victories.
The club has won two Greek Championships (1991 and 2013) and three ESPAA Junior Championships (1990, 1991, and 2013).
The “fine girls” have also made great contributions to the Greek National Team. Players such as R. Pragaloudi, S. Angelaki, F. Malapetsa, K. Yaleniou, and E. Sfyri were part of the historic success of winning the bronze medal at the 1991 Mediterranean Games.
The team’s best season is considered to be 2009, when the “fine girls” reached the Challenge Cup final and, at the same time, won the domestic double in Greece.
The players who made history under coach Takis Floros were Chatzinikou, Saparefska, Totsko, Dumitrescu, Tomasevic, Fernandez, Mylona, Tzanakaki, Koutouxidou, and Papageorgiou. [2]
Honours
editDomestic
edit- Greek Championship (record): (27)[1]
- 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026
- Greek Cup: (6)
- 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2022
- Double: (6)
- 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2022
European
edit
CEV Cup Winners Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2000
CEV Challenge Cup
- Runners-up (2): 2009, 2026
Current women's volleyball squad
editThe following is the roster for the 2026–2027 season.[3]
| Number | Player | Position | Height (m) | Birth date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Outside hitter | 1.86 | September 20, 1998 | |
| 10 | Outside hitter | 1.78 | October 30, 1996 | |
| 11 | Setter | 1.84 | September 16, 1996 | |
| 13 | Libero | 1.67 | July 4, 1987 | |
| 14 | Outside hitter | 1.83 | November 6, 1999 | |
| 16 | Libero | 1.75 | September 16, 2002 | |
| 18 | Middle blocker | 1.86 | December 22, 1999 | |
| -- | Opposite | 1.91 | January 28, 2001 | |
| -- | Middle blocker | 1.93 | December 30, 1998 | |
| -- | Outside hitter | 1.84 | June 20, 2002 | |
| -- | Middle blocker | 1.96 | July 5, 1999 | |
| -- | Outside hitter | 1.82 | June 25, 1997 | |
| -- | Setter | 1.77 | January 25, 2001 | |
Technical and managerial staff
edit| Staff | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | |
| Assistant coach | |
| Assistant coach | |
| Statistician | |
| Trainer | |
| Physiotherapist | |
| Kit assistant | |
| Team manager | |
Retired numbers
edit| Panathinaikos women's volleyball retired numbers | ||||
| N° | Nat. | Player | Position | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Ruxandra Dumitrescu | Outside Hitter | 2003–2010 | |
Selected former players
edit
Jimena Pérez
Margarita Stepanenko
Polina Neykova
Daniela Todorova
Lira Ribas
Jennifer Cross
Marisa Field
Tammy Mahon
Kyla Richey
Martina Šamadan
Kenia Carcaces
Rachel Sánchez
Manolina Konstantinou
Alexia Rotsidou
Jana Simankova
Jana Zikmundova
Jelena Lozancic
Jana Franziska Poll
Aggi Babuli
Eva Chantava
Eirini Chatziefstratiadou
Eleftheria Chatzinikou
Ruxandra Dumitrescu
Eleni Fragiadaki
Maria Garagouni
Niki Garagouni
Sofia Kosma
Nikoletta Koutouxidou
Lia Mitsi
Natalia Metaxa
Xanthi Milona
Athina Papafotiou
Chara Sakkoula
Efi Sfyri
Olga Strantzali
Georgia Tzanakaki
Tatjana Samodanova
Olga Tocko
Maret Grothues
Zanete Pizele
Julia Salcevic
Milica Budimir
Jelena Mladenovic
Brižitka Molnar
Sanja Tomasevic
Romana Hudecová
Sonja Borovincek
Marisa Fernández
Monique Adams
Adora Anae
Sherridan Atkinson
Haylie Bennett
Trisha Bradford
Selected former coaches
editHistorical performance in the league
edit| Panhellenic Championship | A' National | A1 Division | Pre League | A1 Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Positions
edit| Position | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Times | 27 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
International record
edit| Season | Achievement | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champions Cup | |||
| 1993-94 | Quarter-final | eliminated by Matera | |
| Cup Winners Cup | |||
| 1994-95 | Final Four | 4th place | |
| 1995-96 | 7th place | ||
| 1999-00 | Final | 2nd place, defeated by Perugia | |
| CEV Cup | |||
| 1980-81 | Final Four | 4th place | |
| Challenge Cup | |||
| 2008-09 | Final | 2nd place, defeated by Vini Monteschiavo Jesi | |
| 2009-10 | Quarter-final | eliminated by Asterix Kieldrecht | |
| 2025-26 | Final | 2nd place, defeated by Megabox Vallefoglia | |
Sponsorships
edit| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2007–2008 | Adidas | Subaru |
| 2008–2009 | ||
| 2009–2010 | Asics | Tonotil / Salonpas |
| 2010–2011 | ||
| 2011–2012 | Evropi Insurance | |
| 2012–2013 | Royal | Evropi Insurance |
| 2013–2014 | Fila | |
| 2014–2015 | - | Bolossis |
| 2015–2016 | — | |
| 2016–2017 | Erreà | Allou Fun Park |
| 2018–2019 | Athlos Sport | OPAP |
| 2019–2020 | Macron | |
| 2020–2021 | ||
| 2021–2022 | ||
| 2022–2023 | ||
| 2024–2025 | Adidas | Pame Stoixima |
| 2025–2026 |
- Official Sport Clothing Manufacturer: Adidas
- Golden Sponsor: Pame Stoixima
- Official sponsors: Hygeia Medical Center, Avance Car Rental, Land Rover Spanos Luxury Cars, Viva Fresh, Batteries.gr, Biosteel, LCG. Boukia kai syhorio.[4][5]
- Official Broadcaster: PAO TV
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 sunTech s.a. (2022-05-12). "Η Χρυσή Βίβλος της Volley League Γυναικών". ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΟΜΟΣΠΟΝΔΙΑ ΠΕΤΟΣΦΑΙΡΙΣΗΣ (in Greek). Retrieved 2022-05-12.
- ↑ https://www.pao1908.com/sports/volei-gynaikon/
- ↑ Παναθηναϊκός ΑΟ. volleyball.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ↑ "Χορηγοί". Παναθηναϊκός Αθλητικός Όμιλος (in Greek). Retrieved 2022-12-04.
- ↑ "Φίνο τρίποντο και προχωράει!". Παναθηναϊκός Αθλητικός Όμιλος (in Greek). 2022-11-26. Retrieved 2022-12-04.
External links
edit- Official website (in Greek)