The Berlin Volleys have made it into the quarter-finals of the Volleyball Champions League. The Bundesliga leaders won 3-2 (24-26, 25-21, 25-20, 18-25, 15-9) against Turkish champions Ziraat Bank Ankara.
In front of 5134 spectators in the Max-Schmeling-Halle, middle blocker Anton Brehme was the outstanding player in the winner. In the quarter-finals, the German champions meet the world-class team SSM Perugia from Italy. The first leg in Berlin will take place on March 8th.
Despite an interim 24:20, the BR Volleys gave away the 1:0 set lead. Ankara still won this round with a 6-0 point series. Especially the ex-Berliner Wouter ter Maat made the volleys difficult with his attacking actions.
Hosts keep cool
But the Berliners were by no means shocked. Although the attackers Timothee Carle and Marek Sotola at times fell well short of their potential, they seized control of the game in the period that followed. They benefited from the fact that the Turks revealed considerable problems in accepting them. After the two sets won, the volleys ran out of air towards the end of the fourth round. After an intermediate result of 15:15, Ankara turned up the heat and saved itself in the tie-break.
In the deciding set, the hosts pulled away to 9:5 after an ace by Carle. From this comfortable situation, they worked out six match points at 14:8, the second of which Marek Sotola converted to victory.