BR Volleys already have the Champions League in mind
The Berlin Volleys were already one step ahead in their thoughts. "The Champions League - that's already in the back of our minds," admitted second setter Leon Dervisaj on the streaming service Dyn after the relaxed 3:0 home win in the Volleyball Bundesliga against newly promoted VC Bitterfeld-Wolfen on Wednesday. The capital city club thus also took the lead in the table.
But before the eagerly awaited showdown at home against Benfica Lisbon to kick off the group stage in the top flight on November 23, the German champions have another must-win game to look forward to. In the cup, they face second-division club Blue Volleys Gotha on Sunday for a place in the semi-finals. The BR Volleys are defending cup holders.
"If we show our blocking and serving strength there, then hopefully it will be a clear-cut affair," said Dervisaj. The 27-year-old had deputized for setter Johannes Tille against Bitterfeld-Wolfen from the second set onwards and did a decent job. Even more impressive was the penetrating power of Timothee Carle and Cody Kessel, who impressed with attacking rates of 60 and 57 percent respectively.
For middle blocker Saso Stalekar, however, the relatively narrowly won second set (25:22) also gave cause for criticism. He noted that his team made "unnecessary mistakes and balls that shouldn't fall on the floor" during this phase. His conclusion: "It was really garbage."
The Berlin Volleys, aiming for the Champions League, have their sights set on a successful cup run as well. They are defending titlists in the German Cup and will face Blue Volleys Gotha in the upcoming round for a spot in the semifinals. Meanwhile, in the Bundesliga, they already lead the table after their recent win against VC Bitterfeld-Wolfen, maintaining their focus on securing a spot in the Champions League's group stage.
Source: www.dpa.com
