The BR Volleys made a big step towards the quarterfinals in the Champions League and won in Novi Sad.
On the fourth day of the group stage, the Bundesliga leaders defeated the Serbian champions Vojvodina Novi Sad on Wednesday after a convincing performance 3-0 (27:25, 25:20, 25:23). Before the last two preliminary round games, the Berliners lead their group of four undefeated with twelve points.
In the last two games, however, the BR Volleys have to play twice at Zenit St. Petersburg, favorites to win the group, on February 16th and 17th. Only the first from the five preliminary round groups and the three best second come into the quarter-finals.
The very first sentence in the cauldron of Novi Sad offered high tension. Because the guests initially weakened when serving and receiving, the Serbs pulled away with a five-point lead (10:5, 14:9). After a ball out by Benjamin Patch, Novi Sad came very close to winning the set with a 23:19 lead. But the Berliners equalized (23:23), fended off another set ball before their middle blocker Nehemiah Mote used the second set ball for his team to 27:25.
The sense of achievement inspired the German master. The team confidently determined the second round. Above all, the quick attacks with pinpoint passes from Sergej Grankin to Jeffrey Jendryk made things difficult for the opponent. The block defense also worked.
Things got tight again in the third period when the BR Volleys fell behind by 15:18 after a 10:5 lead. But even in this phase, the team fought back with nerves of steel.