Helios Grizzlys come back from two-set deficit to celebrate tiebreak win

On Thursday night, Helios Grizzlys GIESEN of Germany celebrated a hard-fought 3-2 victory in the first leg of the CEV Volleyball Cup 32nd Finals against Hungary’s reigning national champions MÁV Foxconn SZÉKESFEHÉRVÁR. With some 1,047 spectators in attendance, the atmosphere in the Sparkassen-Arena Hildesheim was electric as head coach Itamar Stein’s team overturned a 0-2 set deficit to secure a tiebreak win. 

Stein relied on the following starting seven: Mark Rura, Ilja Ivanov, Juan Manuel Gonzalez, Jakob Günthör, Austin Wilmot, Lars Migge, and libero John Hatch. Miguel Sinfronio was sidelined due to injury, with Onno Möller stepping into the squad in his place. The Grizzlys struggled to find their rhythm early on. The visitors from Hungary, on the other hand, impressed with powerful serves, strong blocking and very few unforced errors. GIESEN initially created little pressure from the service line and lacked offensive punch, resulting in a 20-25 loss in the opening set. The second set also belonged clearly to MÁV Foxconn SZÉKESFEHÉRVÁR, who extended their lead with a commanding 25-16 win.

In the third set, home captain Jan Röling and Yannik Ahr injected new energy and increased tempo into the match. The hosts gained confidence and increasingly won even the tight rallies. With a 25-22 win, they secured the third set. The Grizzlys carried this momentum into the fourth set. Under the direction of setter Röling – who skilfully distributed the action – and driven by the loud home crowd, the home favourites established an early lead. Two aces from Rura and a dominant block from Wilmot ultimately levelled the match at 2-2.

The tiebreak started evenly, but after the side change at 8-7, the Grizzlys pulled away point after point. An ace by Röling made it 11-8, followed by a block from Günthör, and finally a powerful ace by Wilmot to seal the 15-10 tie-break win and the match. After roughly two hours of play, the 3-2 comeback victory was complete. Mark Rura was named MVP of the match.

The second leg will take place next Tuesday in Hungary. The aggregate winner of the two matches will advance to the 16th Finals of the CEV Volleyball Cup to play there Polish powerhouse JSW JASTRZEBSKI Wegiel. The Grizzlys won’t have to wait long for their next challenge. This Sunday, they host SWD powervolleys DÜREN, one of the top teams in the current Volleyball Bundesliga season.