Despite a good performance, the BR Volleys failed in the quarterfinals of the Volleyball Champions League. Although the Berliners won 3:2 on Wednesday evening (25:21,
25:22, 9:25, 21:25, 15:13) against the Italian top team Itas Trentino.
Since the volleys clearly with the first leg in Italy lost 0:3 had, they would have needed a 3:0 or 3:1 in front of 4,157 spectators in the Max-Schmeling-Halle to force a deciding set – the so-called “golden set”.
First set goes to the volleys
The BR Volleys got off to a good start. The Berliners immediately seemed wide awake and, with a score of 6:3, set themselves apart for the first time. Trentino coach Angelo Lorenzetti reacted and called the first time-out to stop the momentum of the volleys and throw the hosts out of rhythm. However, that hardly worked. Especially with a strong service game, the volleys repeatedly put the Italians under pressure and deservedly remained in the lead.
The quality of the three-time Champions League winner, with former volleyball libero Julian Zenger on the plate, was always recognizable: despite a strong performance in the first set, the volleys initially didn’t manage to earn a point cushion – the round stayed tight. In the decisive phase of the first set, however, the Berliners kept their nerve and took the first point with 25:21.
Volleys in the second set continue to be strong – third section goes to Trentino
In the second round, the guests initially took control. But the Berliners continued to play unimpressed and stayed in the game, especially thanks to Sergei Grankin’s continued good serves. Cedric Enard’s team caught up a four-point deficit halfway through the second set. Mistakes crept in more and more often in Trentino and the volleys took the lead again. This again brought the Berliners to the finish line. Benjamin Patch converted the second set ball to 25:22. At least now the 3:0 and the associated “golden set” was within reach.
In the third set, however, the Berliners had problems. Trentino now played more fluently and purposefully. With the score at 2:8, Enard took the second time-out of the set and tried to get his team back on track. But it continued to be difficult: the volleys made too many mistakes, especially with the assumptions – Trentino continued to pull away. With 25:9 the third set finally went clearly to the guests.
Volleys narrowly miss “Golden End”.
The fourth set was much more balanced again. The BR Volleys were now better in the game and played much clearer. The Berliners kept taking the lead, but Trentino stayed within striking distance until the end of the period. At the score of 18:17, the Italians took the lead again for the first time in a long time and turned the game around. Enard took another break, but could no longer prevent the loss of the set and the associated defeat. The set went to Trentino with 25:21 and Berlin missed the necessary “golden end”.
The fact that the Berliners finally won the tiebreak with 15:13 should have been only a small consolation.
Broadcast: rbb24, 03/16/22, 9:45 p.m
Source: rbb