The Berlin Volleys kept up two sets at eye level. In the end, however, the German champions suffered a 0:3 (25:27, 19:25, 22:25) defeat in the quarterfinals of the Volleyball Champions League at Itas Trentino on Thursday.
“There is a second chapter in this quarter-final,” Volleys coach Cedric Enard said aggressively before the second leg in Berlin on Wednesday, but also warned of full concentration on the task ahead: “Before that, we have an important match in the Bundesliga. “
On Sunday (5:30 p.m.) the Volleys will meet the Grizzlies Giesen in the playoff quarterfinals for the German championship, played in a best-of-three series. It’s a first versus last duel. The Lower Saxony should not spread too much terror at the capital club. After all, the BR Volleys have won all ten Bundesliga games against each other so far, but only just 3:2 and a 24:22 in the tiebreak in January 2021.
In Trento, the first set with the happier ending for the Italians was decisive for the outcome of the game. After a 18:16 lead, the volleys conceded a 0:4 point series, equalized again at 21:21, but had to admit defeat with the third set ball. “You have to take advantage of opportunities like the one in the first sentence at the level of the top eight teams in Europe,” said Enard. “After that it got difficult because Trentino built up a lot of pressure.”
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In the second leg, the BR Volleys now have to win 3:0 or 3:1 and immediately afterwards also win a golden set up to the 15th point. Outside attacker Ruben Schott knows how to do that. “We have to improve our serve and act even more courageously,” said the 27-year-old. “Then,” he predicts, “with our fans behind us, it will be a hot second leg.”