Marek Sotola from Berlin tries to smash past the Düren block Photo: picture alliance/dpa
From BZ/dpa
The BR Volleys have reinforced their lead in the table. In Düren, the German champions won their fourth game of the intermediate round on Friday evening 3-1 (21:25, 25:18, 25:19, 25:23)
Just five days earlier, the two teams had faced each other in the German Cup final in Mannheim. The BR Volleys asserted themselves there with 3:1.
Three days after the cup defeat, Düren released their coach Rafal Murczkiewicz and replaced him with his previous assistant Björn-Arne Alber as an interim solution. In addition, the 41-year-old Björn Andrae had to help out in the important diagonal position for the hosts against the Berliners, since Sebastian Gevert, who was otherwise seeded there, could only watch injured.
Up until 20:20 in the first set, neither team was able to gain significant advantages. But in the final phase of this period, the hosts consistently used their chances to break away.
The BR Volleys then got more access to the game with an improved serve, even if they had to accept a series with 0:5 points in the second half after a 15:10 lead due to sudden concentration problems.
The action remained hard-fought even after the 1:1 set equalization. The BR Volleys gradually gained a slight advantage with the outstanding triumph of Anton Brehme and Marek Sotola. Even in the phases in which Düren played to catch up after a clear deficit, the Berliners kept a cool head.
In the fourth set, the BR Volleys conceded the equalizer after a 22:19 lead. A missed serve by Björn Andrae ultimately decided the game with the second match ball in favor of the Berliners.