The WWK Volleys Herrsching beat the Grizzlys Giesen 3:0 in a very exciting game and secured fifth place for the play-offs.
Herrsching
– That was advertising for volleyball.
In a game that was hard to beat in terms of excitement, WWK Volleys Herrsching defeated Helios Grizzlys Giesen 3-0 (25:23, 30:28, 37:35) on Wednesday evening and started the game as fifth overall in the Bundesliga -offs.
Head coach Thomas Ranner was happy about "our best game in the intermediate round".
Just in time for the season highlight, the shape of the Ammerseer is clearly pointing upwards.
The quarter-final opponent will be played next weekend.
The power volleys Düren, SVG Lüneburg and VfB Friedrichshafen are still in the draw.
"We want to make it to the semi-finals," Ranner announced - even if it were to go against his old love Friedrichshafen in the quarter-finals ("That wouldn't be the absolute dream").
Last year, after a big fight in the quarter-finals, the Herrschinger were eliminated by a hair's breadth against the Häfler (at that time still with Ranner as VfB assistant coach).
This year you see yourself prepared in the Herrschinger camp.
"We can do it.
However, we need a top performance for that”, Managing Director Max Hauser dares to take a look ahead at the quarter-final series (best-of-3) starting on March 25th.
In any case, the strong performance in the intermediate round should give the Ammersee team a boost.
The win against the Grizzlys Giesen was the sixth win in seven games in the intermediate round.
"We wanted to show that we are the best team in the lower intermediate round," said Ranner after the 103-minute match.
Before the game, Ranner had announced an "emotional game".
And the 35-year-old was right.
In none of the three sets was the lead more than two points.
And the 35-year-old was right.
In none of the three sets was the lead more than two points.
And the 35-year-old was right.
In none of the three sets was the lead more than two points.
"We just weren't good enough," said Giesen coach Itamar Stein, who was visibly served.
"Herrsching stayed calm." In the first set, middle blocker Dorde Ilic turned the game late with a strong serve series.
Maciej Borris placed the second set ball in the grizzly field.
In the second round, the hosts followed the music for a long time, fought back and even took the lead in the middle of the set.
But the weakened Giesener, where middle blocker Jakob Günthör had to attack diagonally, turned the set again.
But this time Herrschinger's nerves were made of steel.
"We always believed in it," Ranner said.
The fifth set ball finally brought the decision in favor of the home side.
Anyone who thought it couldn't get any more exciting was proven wrong.
Because in the third round, both teams offered the 1200 spectators in the Audi Dome pure excitement and drama.
The guests got off to a better start again.
At times Giesen was six points ahead, but "we never got nervous," said Ranner.
Such scores (like the 8:14) were repeatedly simulated in the training sessions.
Herrschinger were back in the game just in time for crunch time.
And then it got really wild.
Herrsching missed three match points, while Giesen missed eight set points.
After 103 minutes it was player James Shaw who got in the way of ex-Herrschinger Jori Mantha and put the lid on.
The 37:35 was also the highest set result in the volleyball league this season.
In the nine-year Herrschinger Bundesliga history, only one sentence lasted longer.
In February 2018 it was 43:41 against Netzhoppers Königs Wusterhausen.
Jonas Sagstetter secured the golden MVP medal as the most valuable player.
The Herrschinger outside attacker (14 points, 57% attack rate) was "totally happy".
Only his six acceptance errors rankled the 23-year-old.
The most successful attacker of the evening was Albert Hurt (16 points).
The two middle blockers Dorde Ilic (12) and Maciej Borris (10) also scored in double figures.
Jonas Kaminski started on the diagonal, then Stijn van Tilburg took over in the middle of the second set.
Assuming part-time Libero Ferdinand Tille was his man.
"The team has developed very well," says Ranner happily.
If the team stays fit, the big hit can finally succeed in the umpteenth attempt this year.