In an exciting game over five sets, the Stuttgart volleyball team prevailed against Potsdam, who could have secured the championship title with a win today. MTV equalized by winning the tie-break in the best-of-five series to 2-2 and thus saved themselves in the fifth and decisive game on Sunday.
Stuttgart gets the first set after a bumpy start
After disappointing tie-break defeat on Wednesday the Stuttgart women were under a lot of pressure in Potsdam. Tore Aleksandersen’s team was clearly nervous about winning the game in the opening minutes. In front of around 2,000 spectators in the sold-out MBS Arena, the hosts got off to a better start and quickly took a 6:3 lead. After the surprising victory in Stuttgart, the women from Potsdam played freely and held the three-point lead – 10:7. But then MTV came into play better and managed to equalize at 13:13. After that, a balanced game developed in which neither team could really pull away. At the score of 20:19, the women from Stuttgart then managed the first lead. But the first set remained exciting until the end. In the end it was Krystal Rivers who converted the first set ball for Stuttgart to 25:23.
Potsdam wins the second set with ease
The second set showed a similar picture as at the beginning of the first. Thanks to their high level of efficiency in attack, Potsdam took the lead again with 6:3. After long rallies and strong defenses on both sides, the hosts were even able to extend their lead to six points – 9:3. But then the women from Stuttgart pulled themselves together and reduced the deficit to 8:11, also thanks to some mistakes made by the women from Potsdam. The Stuttgart team couldn’t get any closer, despite an outstanding defense by Libera Roosa Koskelo. Stuttgart tried to keep the pressure up, but the hosts stayed cool and extended their lead to 24:18. MTV was able to fend off the first set ball, but then Potsdam converted the second to 25:19.
Allianz MTV wins Krimi in the third set
And in the third set, the guests from Stuttgart initially struggled and fell 4:7 behind. After desperation was slowly spreading at MTV, Tore Aleksandersten Julia Nowicka came on, which was good for the Stuttgart game. After a strong block by the Pole and the fifth acceptance error by the women from Potsdam, Stuttgart succeeded in connecting 15:16. Simone Lee scored with a very strong serve to make it 19:19. It was the sixth ace for MTV. And with the seventh, the guests then took the lead for the first time. A thriller developed, as in the first movement. But this time, MTV missed his first set point and the second, Timerman’s serve, also went wide. Stuttgart then used the third and got the third set with 26:24.
Potsdam wins fourth set
At the beginning of the fourth set, the women from Stuttgart showed nerves again and quickly reached 0:4 behind. The Potsdam women adjusted well to the MTV game and defused River’s attacks with strong blocks. But the women from Stuttgart also showed a good defensive performance and fought their way up to 9:11 with four points in a row. In this phase, the women from Potsdam made too many service mistakes, which allowed the women from Stuttgart to come close to 16:18. And yet the hostesses fought for a 24:18 lead. MTV fended off the first set ball, and Potsdamm converted the second to win the set 25:19. As on Wednesday, the tie-break started.
MTV keeps its nerve and keeps its chance at the championship
In the decisive fifth set, Stuttgart started better. As in the whole game, Maria Segura showed a strong performance and gave her team a 2-1 lead. After the interim 5:1 lead, Potsdam managed to equalize to 5:5. In an exciting final phase with changing leads, the women from Potsdam took the lead 14:13, but then missed two match points and the chance to win the title directly. Stuttgart, on the other hand, converted their first match point to 17:15 and thus remains in the race for the championship. The grand finale takes place on Sunday (7:15 p.m.) in Stuttgart.
Source: SWR