The German volleyball players started the Olympic qualifying tournament in Poland with a victory.
The team coach Vital Heynen beat Thailand 3-0 in Lodz (25:22, 25:22, 25:20). The most successful German attacker was Camilla Weitzel with 13 points. The German will meet on Sunday (September 17th, 2023). team around returnee Kimberly Drewniok on Colombia (11.30 a.m.).
Problems starting for DVV team
The German thing happened team It was very difficult at the beginning and was 5:9 behind, but was able to turn it into a 10:9 lead. The Thais held on until 22:22 before Weitzel and Lina Alsmeier secured the first set with three points in a row. The second set was just as competitive, with the German players unable to maintain a 20:17 lead. After 20:21 the German sprinted team but to win the second set, which Drewniok secured. In the third round, the Germans kept their opponents at a distance, and Weitzel finished the game.
After the successful Nations League and the disappointing European Championships, this is the third tournament for the German team this year. Two tickets for Paris 2024 will be awarded in each of the three groups of eight in Poland, China and Japan. All group opponents play against each other once.
The selection of the German Volleyball Association is only an outsider given the strong competition from Italy, the USA and Poland. Another chance at the Olympics will come in June next year via the world rankings, for which every game counts.