Allianz MTV Stuttgart fended off the first match point against SSC Schwerin and can be crowned German champions again on Sunday.
The volleyball players from defending champion Allianz MTV Stuttgart have forced a showdown in the fight for the German championship. The three-time champion confidently defeated the main round winner SSC Palmberg Schwerin in their own hall 3-0 (26:24, 25:19, 25:20) and equalized 2-2 in the final series.
In a tight first set, Allianz MTV Stuttgart was behind by two points for the first time after 16 minutes. Krystal Rivers and Co made a few mistakes in this phase, especially in the attacking game. Coach Konstantin Bitter’s team was more efficient in the block: Britt Bongaerts and Jolien Knollema in particular were stable and brought Stuttgart closer again. Towards the end of the first set, Krystal Rivers also found her way into the game better and better – up to that point with only one point from five attacks. With three points from the following three attacks, she enabled Jolien Knollema to narrowly decide the first set 26:24 for Stuttgart with a block against Tutku Burcu Yüzgenç.
Stuttgart suddenly confident
The 2,251 spectators also saw a close and competitive game in the second set. Then Maria Segura Palleres went to serve. With the first ace of the game, she gave Stuttgart a three-point lead for the first time. At the end of her serve series it was 15:9. The Stuttgart women never gave up this lead. They therefore also decided the second set with 25:19.
In the third set, Stuttgart marched ahead from the start, quickly led 8-2 and was able to maintain this lead for a long time. But Schwerin stabilized and fought its way back bit by bit. But as is so often the case when Stuttgart comes under pressure, Krystal Rivers’ moment comes, who was named player of the game with a total of 22 points. The 29-year-old converted the second match point to make it 25:20. Game five is on Sunday, April 28th at 5:10 p.m. in Schwerin.
