BR Volleys pass "mentality test" in Friedrichshafen
The Berlin Volleys have taken the first step towards successfully defending the German Volleyball Cup. "This match was purely a question of mentality," commented Volleys coach Joel Banks on the hard-fought 3:2 victory in the round of 16 at arch-rivals VfB Friedrichshafen on Saturday. The tie-break ended 15:13. The quarter-finals will be drawn on Monday and will be played on November 18 and 19.
"Our opponents pushed us to the limit," said Volleys middle blocker Nehemiah Mote, praising their opponents' tenacious resistance in the almost two-and-a-half-hour volleyball thriller. For Banks, the changeover options were ultimately the decisive factor in the good ending after trailing 2:1 in the set: "You could see how valuable the depth of our squad is for us."
The Volleys players are already under a lot of pressure this weekend. Just 48 hours after the game in Friedrichshafen, the team will be called upon again in the Bundesliga on Monday at Volleys Herrsching. The Berliners therefore stayed in the south of the republic, and when they return home early Tuesday morning they will have traveled a total of around 1600 kilometers by bus for their two games.
And the travel hardships continue: On Friday, they will travel to Lake Constance again. The German champions will then play VfB Friedrichshafen again, this time in a Bundesliga clash.
The victory over VfB Friedrichshafen in the DVV Cup round of 16 was a significant test for BR Volleys' mental fortitude, as they overcame a 2:1 deficit to secure a 3:2 victory. With the DVV Cup quarter-finals draw on Monday, BR Volleys will face a challenging match against their rivals, aiming to continue their success against VfB Friedrichshafen in the Bundesliga on Friday.
Source: www.dpa.com
