Even without their injured top player Hanna Orthmann, the German volleyball players remain unbeaten at the European Championships at home and are heading towards the round of 16.
The team of national coach Vital Heynen won 3:1 (25:13, 25:22, 12:25, 25:14) against Azerbaijan on Saturday and celebrated the second win in the second game in the sold-out Düsseldorf Castello.
“It was so much fun. We needed the hall to get back into play after the third set. I’m very proud of my team,” said captain Lena Stigrot, who also dedicated the win to teammate Orthmann: “We tried to win for them.”
The selection of the German Volleyball Association (DVV) jumps at least temporarily to the top of the table in group C with the maximum yield of six points. A win on Monday against Sweden (8 p.m. / Sportdeutschland.TV) beckons early entry into the Round.
“Drama” for Germany’s volleyball women
The butterflies had suffered a setback before the game with Orthmann’s elimination from the European Championship. The winger was injured in the 3-0 win over Greece and her tournament has already come to an end with knee problems. “It’s a drama for Hanna and the team. Now we have to show character,” said Heynen.
And this was shown by his team, who were highly concentrated from the start. Especially captain Lena Stigrot shone, Germany won the first round with 25:13. After the hard-fought 25:22 in the second set, the Germans already looked like the sure winners.
The German team then completely slept through the start of round three, at the end there was a clear 12:25 and the first loss of a set in the current tournament. Germany then recovered, with a 25:14 all three points went to their own account.