The Berlin Volleys are German volleyball champions again.
In the third game of the playoff final against VfB Friedrichshafen, the defending champion prevailed 3:1 (25:18, 25:18, 16:25, 27:25) and ended the best-of-five series prematurely with 3: 0 wins.
It is the seventh consecutive league title for the capital club and 13th overall. The club is catching up with record champions Friedrichshafen.
In front of 8,553 fans in the sold-out Max-Schmeling-Halle, the BR Volleys initially exercised the dominance with which they had already impressed 48 hours earlier in their impressive 3-0 win in Friedrichshafen. After a successful attack by Marek Sotola, the hosts even led the first set by nine points (22:13). Timothee Carle, who was heavily challenged by VfB in acceptance, converted the third set point.
Volleys dominate the first two sets
The volleys stayed the same in the second set. With the serve they put massive pressure on the opponent, especially setter Johannes Tille distinguished himself. In the block, Nehemiah Mote in particular proved to be a bulwark. VfB even failed at one-blocks from Mote to 15:10 and Ruben Schott to 22:13.
In the third round Friedrichshafen took the lead for the first time ever (5:3) after two aces in a row by Michal Superlak and thus gained the security to close the gap to 1:2 after sets. After that it got heated. After a heated dispute between the players at the net, referee Robert Ließ dismissed VfB middle blocker Andre Brown.
Fourth round drama
The game became more disjointed and dramatic in the fourth period. The BR Volleys were already 17:21 behind, fended off two set balls from the opponent, got the first match point for the championship through Sotola at 26:25, which they then immediately used with a block.
A special moment was the triumph for volleyball coach Cedric Enard, who is leaving the club after the season.