The volleyball players from SC Potsdam had to admit defeat to Dresdner SC in the semi-finals of the DVV Cup. In a hard-fought game, the Potsdam women lost 2:3 and narrowly escaped a sensation.
SC Potsdam was eliminated from the DVV Cup in the semi-finals. Riccardo Boieri’s team narrowly lost to the favorites from Dresden 2:3 (25:21, 21:25, 25:23, 22:25, 11:15).
Even in the first few minutes, the two teams gave each other nothing in the so-called early final. With the score at 5:5 in the first set, the Potsdam women remained focused and were able to take the lead 8:5 after a strong block from Anna Koulberg. A rare positional error on the Dresden side and a wide-awake Sabrina Starks led to Potsdam’s lead being extended. The hosts didn’t break down, were able to fend off a brief rebellion from Dresden and win the first set 25:21.
Dresden with difficulties
SC Potsdam remained fearless against the table leaders from Dresden, who had not had their best day up to this point. Victoria Demidova’s warped balls out of bounds were symbolic of this. The Dresden player was substituted at the start of the second set. The Potsdam women repeatedly found gaps in the opposing defense and used them well. Dresden slowly found its way into the role of favorites, and outside attacker Lorena Fijok in particular played well. Potsdam was able to reduce the guests’ 16:11 lead to 16:15, but Dresden ultimately won set number 2 with a score of 25:21.
Crime thriller at the end of a sentence
Guest coach Alexander Waibl and Dresdner SC have only suffered one defeat in the league this season, but they did not dominate against Potsdam as clearly as often seen. The Potsdam women had problems with the Dresden women’s serves at the beginning of the third set – but were still able to hold on at all times. On the visitors’ side, Victoria Demidova was back in the game and now in better form. In the course of the third set, Dresden continued to turn things up.
However, Potsdam had something to counteract a temporary 10:4 lead and equalized at 12:12. And the fourth-placed team from Potsdam didn’t let up. At the end of set 3, the spectators in Potsdam’s MBS Arena witnessed a volleyball thriller – with a close and good ending for Potsdam. The hosts won the set 25:23 to thunderous cheers.
No let-up on either side
It remained a spectacle. With Potsdam women who showed no weakness. The favorites from Dresden were unable to break away decisively in the fourth set and the hosts took advantage of that. It became extremely tight again. This time with a better end for the Dresden women, who won the fourth set 25:22. However, the success of the set was overshadowed by a controversial situation on the last point, as, according to those responsible in Potsdam, a woman from Dresden should have touched the ball. However, the referee team did not intervene.
In the fifth set the spectators got everything again. A one-armed defense from Sabrina Starks, a fight for every single point and pure thrills. Ultimately, it was the Dresden women who won the last set 15:11 and moved into the final, where they will meet USC Münster on March 2nd.
Broadcast: rbb24, December 18, 2024, 9:45 p.m
