From BZ/dpa
At the BR Volleys the mood was in the basement. “We are depressed,” commented coach Enard on the mood of the German champions after the avoidable 1: 3 (21:25, 19:25, 25:22, 23:25) defeat at Halkbank Ankara in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Volleys player John Tille quarreled after the end of the game: “It feels like an unfinished job.”
For two sets, the Turkish champions around superstar Nimir Abdel-Aziz dominated the action in front of 2250 spectators in the local Baskent Sports Hall. But the German champions showed their ability to take things. As in the 3-2 win in the first group match of the premier class against Hebar Pazardzhik from Bulgaria eight days earlier, the team started to catch up after being 0-2 sets down.
After the Berliners had reduced the lead to 1:2, they were close to the tie-break in the fourth round with a 22:19 lead and thus at least one point to win. But two aces in a row from Dutchman Abdel-Aziz threw the BR volleys off course.
Bitter defeat for the Volleys and coach Cedric Enard Photo: picture alliance/ Nordphoto
“There can be no excuses”
“This ending hurts,” said Tille, noting: “Somehow this game was suddenly over far too quickly.” For Enard, there were no ifs and buts in this final phase. “We have to win the set, there can’t be any excuses,” he said.
Also the once again strong diagonal attacker Marek Sotola was ultimately unable to avert defeat with his 25 points. “We lacked clarity in the actions,” was Enard’s conclusion.
In Group B of the Champions League, the BR Volleys are now third in the table with two points after two matchdays. The group of four is led by Warta Zawiercie from Poland (6 points) ahead of Ankara (3). Hebar Pazardzhik (1) brings up the rear. Only the winners of the five preliminary round groups advance directly. The runners-up and the best third-placed group determine the remaining three participants in the quarter-finals in a play-off round.