VC WIESBADEN celebrates successful return to European stage

On Wednesday night, Germany’s VC WIESBADEN successfully mastered their very first appearance on the European stage since 2015. As their country’s only representative in the women’s CEV Challenge Cup, the team coached by Benedikt Frank edged hosts Bevo Rekkenshop ROESELARE of Belgium 3-1 (25-22, 15-25, 25-23, 25-16). This means they at least hold the key to the 8th Finals. The return match will take place on November 15 in Wiesbaden in the sports hall at Platz der Deutschen Einheit. VC WIESBADEN will have to take at least two sets to go straight through to the next round and to avoid a risky Golden Set.

It was not a clean sweep in the Tomabel Hall in Roeselare, which was only moderately filled with around 500 spectators. Benedikt Frank had rightly warned before the game that they would be facing opponents whose strengths were relatively unknown. Dutch outside hitter Noa de Vos (19), who has recovered from a lengthy injury, was included in the German squad, although she and fellow position player Melissa Langegger did not play in the Flanders. Middle blocker Jonna Wasserfaller and Hannah Hartmann were not on the scoresheet either - both had suffered minor injuries in training on Monday.

Both teams played an even game in the first set which was tactical right from the start. The visitors from Germany held a narrow lead for a long time but had to concede the equaliser for the first time at 14:14. VC WIESBADEN piled on the pressure in crunch time. The first set point did not go in, but then middle blocker Rachel Anderson managed to get the job done (25-22). However, VC WIESBADEN seemed to have lost the necessary confidence in the second set. The home team coached by Koen Devos, on the other hand, acted more consistently and scored time and again. At 12-9 for the home side, Devos requested a challenge, which was rightfully awarded. Outside attacker Charlotte Leys scored the last point to give ROESELARE a clear-cut set win (25-15) after a blocking error by the German team. 

Leys was also responsible for the set point in the third period, but this time she missed her attack – thus giving VC WIESBADEN a 2-1 lead in the match. The Germans had led by one up to four points right from the start. ROESELARE managed to level the score five more times towards the end of the set but could not turn the game around. In the fourth set, the home side ran out of concentration, while VC WIESBADEN was the dominant force. After the last attack by VC WIESBADEN middle blocker Nina Herelová, Leys missed in the block. The final score was 25-16, meaning the visitors had pocketed a 3-1 victory away from home. 

The most prolific athletes on the Bevo Rekkenshop side were Kory White with 21 points and the only 16-year-old outside attacker Tea Radovic with 13. Izabella Rapacz (18), Nina Herelová (14), Tanja Grosser (11) and Rachel Anderson (11) all scored in double-digits for WIESBADEN. Nina Herelová registered an excellent 59% on the evening - the best of all players in Roeselare.

Benedikt Frank, head coach of VC WIESBADEN: “It was the expected close match for us, even though many saw us as favourites in the run-up to the game due to the higher level of the German league. Bevo has strong, experienced players who know exactly what they are doing. The team also has extremely good tactical variations, which we felt particularly in the second set. As the match progressed, we also put more pressure on them by making changes and serving well, and we adapted our game well, especially in the fourth set. Overall, I am satisfied with our performance, today it was all about winning. We now must confirm that at home in Wiesbaden.”