The BR Volleys prevailed against SVG Lüneburg in the final series of the Volleyball Bundesliga and have continued their subscription to the championship. It is already the 16th title win for the Berliners.
- Best-of-three series ends early 3-0
- BR Volleys celebrate the championship after two coaching changes within the season
- Since 2016, the BR Volleys have always been German champions
- Matthew Knigge named most valuable player of the final game
- Jake Hanes’ last game for the BR Volleys
The championship trophy remains in the hands of the Berlin Recycling Volleys: The volleyball Bundesliga team has once again confidently won the battle for the German championship. On Wednesday evening, the Berliners won at SVG Lüneburg 3-1 (25:19, 25:22, 22:25, 25:12) and converted their first match point in the best-of-five series. It is the tenth title win in a row for the BR Volleys; in 2020 there was no winner in the VBL due to the corona pandemic.
It also works without a home advantage
“Never change a running system” was what both coaches thought and brought in the same starting six as in game two. As expected, Jake Hanes, the previous key player in the final series, hammered the ball over the net for Berlin’s first point. Afterwards, the Berliners took the burden off their 2.12 meter man and preferred to attack through their outside attackers Ruben Schott and Moritz Reichert. A change to which the people of Lüneburg did not find a good answer. In addition, Berlin primarily hit Ethan Champlin in order to tie him in the acceptance.
Berlin’s 7:3 lead forced SVG coach Stefan Hübner into the first timeout. But he couldn’t wake up his team. On the contrary: the BR volleys successfully placed aces, while the hosts got into the net unnecessarily and were repeatedly prone to errors. Even a second timeout couldn’t stop the German champions. He continued to keep Lüneburg at bay until Florian Krage-Brewitz closed the set (25:19).
Short burst of SVG…
With the change of sides, the self-proclaimed “LüneHünen” showed a different face. Axel Enlund was preferred over Christopher Byam as a diagonal attacker. After Berlin’s Matthew Knigge dropped the first serve, the hosts moved ahead to four points. Markus Steuerwald took time out for the volleys. The “Lü-Lü-Lüneburg”, which now sounded much louder through the LKH Arena, lit up the SVG in particular, but Hanes also slowly found his rhythm. The Volleys were successful in two challenges and reduced their deficit. Hanes finally broke the block to make it 12:12. Reichert secured the lead in the first set. After that, several service errors from their opponent were enough for the Berliners to stay ahead. SVG fended off two set points, but this round also went to Berlin with a score of 25:22.
… is enough to win a set
In the third set, SVG took maximum risks to stay in the game and fight for the championship. This was not rewarded accordingly at first. Berlin played too routinely. With a 5:9 deficit, Stefan Hübner took a timeout and initiated a short series, which was broken by Hanes before a possible change in leadership. However, several Berlin serves ended up in the net and gave Lüneburg some remaining hope. An ace from Cole Matthew Young was finally enough to equalize the score at 15:15. Unlike before, SVG kept its focus and did not allow itself to be unsettled. The set went to the hosts 25:22.
BR volleys confidently at the end
Matthew Knigge became the most important man in Berlin. His series of serves initiated a 5-0 run, interrupted by a Lüneburg timeout. SVG was no longer able to catch up with this deficit. When the score was 10:4, Hübner took his second timeout. Jake Hanes, who had been less visible in the third set, now turned up the heat again. Much to the chagrin of the 3,200 spectators in the sold-out LKH Arena, who moved their clapboards increasingly less energetically to the beat and had to watch as their team couldn’t find an answer to the American. Consequently, in the end it was Hanes who converted the match point in the fourth set to make it 25:12 and thus end the 2025/2026 season.
Jake Hanes’ departure is certain
It should be his last point and title for the BR Volleys. Shortly after BRV captain Ruben Schott lifted the championship trophy for “Days like these” by Die Toten Hosen, managing director Kaweh Niroomand already gave a squad update: “Unfortunately, Jake Hanes will no longer be with us next season. It’s a shame. But we’re bringing another attraction.” Niroomand didn’t want to reveal which one with a big grin on his face, but instead announced the party plans: “We’ll celebrate on the bus. We’ll celebrate tomorrow and on Saturday evening we’ll celebrate with the fans.”
Broadcast: rbb24, May 6, 2026, 9:57 p.m
Audio: rbb24, May 6, 2026, Torsten Michels
