3:0 against Gotha: BR Volleys advance to the cup semi-finals
The Berlin Volleys have lived up to their role as favorites in the quarter-finals of the German Volleyball Cup. The defending cup holders won 3:0 (25:23, 25:19, 25:18) at top second division club Blue Volleys Gotha on Sunday, but put in a mediocre performance for long stretches with numerous substitutes on the court. Setter Johannes Tille was voted the winner's most valuable player afterwards.
The BR Volleys will now face SVG Lüneburg at home in the semi-finals on December 6. This was the result of the draw on Saturday evening in Hildesheim. The two teams already faced each other in the quarter-finals last season. The Berlin team only won the highly dramatic match 27:25 in the tie-break on the twelfth match point.
Berlin's coach Joel Banks had largely fielded his second row in the Goldberghalle in Ohrdruf near Gotha, which was sold out with 900 spectators. The newly formed guest team struggled more badly than well through the sets. In the end, outside attacker Robert Täht won the first match point, but a service error by the valiantly fighting Gotha team finally ended the game.
The Berlin Volleys' impressive 3:0 victory over Gotha propels them to the semi-finals of the DVV Cup, where they will confront SVG Lüneburg next. This is a repeat of their quarterfinals matchup from the previous season, which Berlin narrowly won in a thrilling tie-break.
Source: www.dpa.com
