In the decider, BR Volleys defeated Ziraat Bank Ankara in a tie-break and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The BR Volleys are in the quarterfinals of the Volleyball Champions League. On Wednesday evening, the Berliners won 3-2 against Ziraat Bank Ankrara (24:26, 25:21, 25:20, 18:25, 15:19). Middle blocker Anton Brehme was voted the most valuable player of the game.
Decisive game despite the disaster
Because of the earthquake disaster, it will be decided in just one game instead of two whether BR Volleys or Ankara will move into the quarter-finals of the Champions League. For the Turkish champion, however, volleyball is currently out of the question.more
The first leg in Ankara was canceled last week due to the severe earthquake in Turkey. The association and both clubs agreed not to make up for the game and instead only play a decider in Berlin.
Berliners make set balls
In the Max-Schmeling-Halle, the upper tier of which was open but not sold out, the decisive game took place under these special conditions. The volleys started with Johannes Tille, Anton Brehme, Timothee Carle, Saso Stalekar, Ruben Schott and Marek Sotola. What followed was a balanced first set at the beginning, in which neither team was able to clearly assert itself.
When the Berliners pulled away with three points for the first time, Mustafa Kavaz immediately took the tactical time-out (15:12). The plan partially worked. Wouter ter Maat, who played for the Volleys from 2016 to 2017, caused some problems for his ex-club’s acceptance. The Berliners held a two-point lead, then benefited from a serve error by ter Maat and another ball that went wide (23:18). However, a series of serves from Ankara’s Arslan Eksi then initiated a race to catch up. The Berliners missed set point after set point and finally had to give up the point. Even a challenge from Cedric Enard at 24:26 couldn’t change anything.
Omnipresent Anton Brehme
With the change of sides, the BR Volleys shook off their previous uncertainty. Anton Brehme, who was very present on the field, gave his team a lead of three points (7:4) with an ace. Multiple stoppages from challenges slowed the game and once again threw Cedric Enard’s side out of rhythm. When the Turks threatened to turn the game around, Marek Sotola first managed to score and then add an ace (17:15). The Berliners around Anton Brehme gained more self-confidence and prevented a repetition of the first movement. Sotola sealed the second set with an ace (25:21).
In the third set, the BR Volleys managed to break away earlier because Schott and Brehme also gained security. This gave player Johannes Tille more options to shape the game. After Marek Sotola extended the lead to 16:12, the Turks took a time-out. The Berliners were not deterred by this and kept the upper hand. The Berliners needed two of five set balls (25:20).
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Tie-break decision
The Berliners started the fourth set with a 3-0 lead. However, due to several service errors, they allowed Ankara to move up again and again instead of continuously expanding their lead. When Ziraat Bank Ankara took over the game with 17:16, Cedric Enard only reacted by bringing Angel Trinidad for Johannes Tille and also gave Cody Kessel playing time. The changes in the lineup did not provide the desired strengthening of the block. Instead, the guests won six set points and decided the set at the first attempt (25:18).
In the tie-break, Volleys managed to quickly build up a three-point lead with a strong block. Because the Turks hit the net several times in the decisive set, the Berliners had several match balls. Marek Sotola scored the crucial point for the “Sweet Caroline” already sung by the hall and secured entry into the quarter-finals (15:9).
The opponent is already there. In the next round of the Champions League, the BR Volleys meet the Italian first division club Perugia.
Broadcast: rbb24, February 15, 2023, 9:45 p.m
