Highlight in the Volleyball Bundesliga (VBL): The Powervolleys Düren host the team of the moment in the Berlin Recycling Volleys. Since personnel concerns are quite inconvenient.
In the current season of the volleyball league, the SWD Powervolleys Düren are on target so far. At least as far as the table constellation is concerned. Goswin Caro, sports director of the Dürener, assesses the start of the VBL season as follows: “I am satisfied with the placement at first glance.”
At first glance. Because yes, the power volleys are in second place with four wins from five games, but no, it wasn’t always really convincing. Caro emphasized in the WDR interview on Thursday (November 17th, 2022): “Since we didn’t have all the very strong teams as opponents, it was a bit of a bumpy start.”
Top game against Berlin Recycling Volleys is coming up
So far, the sports director saw a defeat at the start against Herrsching, otherwise only victories. There was also an unchallenged victory against Berlin. However, against the current number two in the capital, VC Olympia Berlin. The VCO is at the bottom of the table.
Instead, the people of Düren now have to play number one on Saturday (8 p.m.). The Berlin Recycling Volleys have a clean record, six games, six wins, 18 points. Düren is seven points behind.
Power volleyball personnel worries at the wrong time
It goes without saying that this top game of the main round also fascinates Caro. And even makes you a little “nervous”. Although the team could “draw something for the rest of the season” if they beat the Berlin team of the hour, Caro is looking forward to the challenge of the power volleys “like Bolle”.
But there is one but: In Sebastian Gevert and Tobias Brand (both ill), coach Rafal Murczkiewicz’s team could be missing “two very, very strong attackers” according to Caro. There are “big question marks” behind the bets of the two.
“With the two in top form, we could certainly have hit Berlin hard,” asserted Caro. Gevert, for example, contributed 21 points alone in the Champions League win against Ankara (Turkey).
Caro combative: “Berlin has not won that for a long time”
Caro saw the game against Ankara as a “little chest release” after the “bumpy start to the league”. Düren is in second place in the Champions League group, things are going according to plan in both competitions, but the double burden for last year’s league playoff semi-finalists is draining.
But the fact that Düren is struggling a bit with strength and staff right now, before the Berlin game, also spurs us on. Caro assures: “Berlin hasn’t won that for a long time.” And adds: “Last season we also beat Berlin’s first team with our ‘second set’.”
Maybe the fans in the hall will give the power volleys a decisive boost – Caro is hoping for 1,500 to 1,800 fans in the stands.
