The SC Potsdam volleyball team caused a big surprise at the start of the play-off semifinals. In the first of a maximum of three games, the team of head coach Guillermo Naranjo Hernandez won 3:2 (25:19, 23:25, 21:25, 35:33, 15:11) against the cup winners Schweriner SC, who started with a weak substitute.
In order to reach the final for the German championship, the Brandenburg women need another win against the favorites from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on Wednesday at home or next Saturday in Schwerin.
The women from Potsdam got off to a great start. They convinced with concentrated defensive behavior and consistent attacking actions. However, they also benefited from the fact that Schwerin had to improvise. Because, among other things, the Turkish national player Tutku Burcu Yüzgenc was out due to back problems, Schwerin played without a regular diagonal attacker, but with three outside reception specialists.
From the second set, however, the hostesses had found each other in this constellation. Although Potsdam played well in the second round with a 22:22 lead and in the third with a 20:19 lead, they were unable to catch up in either case. In particular, there was a problem with the guests in the final stages of the sentences when it came to exploiting chances.
The fourth section was dramatic. SC Potsdam unexpectedly faltered after a 22:17 lead. It went into the set extension, in which the guests fended off eight match points and, in turn, forced the tie-break with the third set point.
In the deciding set, Brandenburg women proved to be the team with stronger nerves. Through the stations 5: 1, 9: 7 and 10:10 they finally got the decisive advantages when Pia Leweling served. In the end, captain Laura Emonts used the second match point to win. (dpa)
