The German volleyball players remain unbeaten at the home European Championships even without their injured top player Hanna Orthmann.
The team of national coach Vital Heynen won on Saturday (08/19/2023) 3:1 (25:13, 25:22, 12:25, 25:14) against Azerbaijan and celebrated the second win in the second game in the sold-out Düsseldorf Castello.
With the maximum yield of six points, Germany jumps at least temporarily to the top of the table in Group C. A win on Monday against Sweden (8 p.m.) beckons early entry into the knockout stages.
EM-Aus for Orthmann
The team suffered a setback before the game when Orthmann lost the European Championship. The winger was injured in the 3-0 win over Greece and her tournament has already come to an end with knee problems. “It’s a drama for Hanna and the team. Now we have to show character,” demanded Heynen.
And this was shown by his team, who were highly concentrated from the start. Especially captain Lena Stigrot shone, Germany won the first round with 25:13.
False start in the third set
After the hard-fought 25:22 in the second set, the Germans already looked like the sure winners. The German team then completely slept through the start of round three, at the end there was a clear 12:25 and the first loss of a set in the current tournament.
Germany then recovered, with a 25:14 all three points went to their own account.