Timothee Carle (from left to right) Satoshi Tsuiki, Ruben Schott and Saso Stalekar celebrate winning a point (archive photo) Photo: picture alliance / photo booth
From BZ/dpa
The Berlin Volleys started successfully in the second round of the volleyball league.
The German champions clearly asserted themselves against the SWD powervolleys Düren on Saturday evening with 3:0 (25:16, 26:24, 25:16). In front of 3941 spectators in the Max-Schmeling-Halle, the Berliners were well prepared for the playoff first leg in the Champions League at Ziraat Bank Ankara on Wednesday, in which a good starting position for the quarter-finals of the premier class is at stake.
In the Bundesliga intermediate round, the BR Volleys will next play SVG Lüneburg on Saturday. Group A, in which the four best teams of the main round are among themselves, also includes runners-up and cup winners VfB Friedrichshafen.
After a ten-day break from competition, the BR Volleys started furiously against Düren. In particular, the two German internationals Ruben Schott and Anton Brehme impressed with their attack power. In this way, the hosts temporarily gained an eleven-point lead in the first round.
The Rhinelanders found their way into the game with significantly improved block defence. In the second set they turned an 8:12 deficit into a 13:12 lead. The volleys were by no means shocked. In the final phase, Frenchman Timothee Carle scored important points for the Berliners.
The hosts acted self-confident not only after their 2-0 set lead and plunged the opponent from one embarrassment to the other with their fluid combination game. The third round also clearly went to the BR Volleys via the stations 7:1, 16:8 and 21:13. Anton Brehme converted the second match point.