Pre-favourites live up to their billing at German championships in Oberstaufen
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Nele Barber, Melanie Gernert, Jennifer Gernert-Scharmacher and Lydia Scherber emerged as the eventual winners of the women’s competition at the fourth edition of the German Snow Volleyball National Championships held this past weekend in Oberstaufen, Bavaria – where Paul Becker, Jonas Reinhardt, Georg Wolf, and Peter Wolf triumphed in the men’s tournament.
After a two-year break imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, the German National Championships enjoyed a truly successful comeback in Oberstaufen where hundreds of spectators watched the action for two days. Eight women’s and just as many men’s teams competed for the medals and delivered very exciting matches.
Team Barber/Gernert/Gernert-Scharmacher/Scherber reached the final without losing a single set. There they delivered an exciting match against Michaela Henry, Laura Mählmann, Bianca Peter, and Eva Schilf. With spectacular defensive actions by Lydia Scherber and Jennifer Scharmacher, as well as strong blocks by Nele Barber and powerful attacks by Melanie Gernert, the team secured the title after two closely fought sets (18-16, 16-14).
“We never stopped and never gave up,” said Jennifer Gernert-Scharmacher about the success. Nele Barber was “proud of the team – world top class”. The former Bundesliga player does not really like snow that much and therefore she always played with gloves. However, she can still imagine the title-defence mission “if the snow was a little warmer”. Third place went to Ida Burbulla, Luisa Doss, and Sandra Ferger.
The men’s favourites also left their mark on the tournament and made their way straight to the final. In a 2-0 victory (15-10, 15-10), Becker/Reinhardt/Wolf/Wolf hardly allowed their opponents Lukas Kopfer, Tim Kreuzer, Florian and Lucas Wenz the chance to find their way into the game. For Paul Becker, this is already the third title in the snow, while the Wolf brothers were standing at the top of the podium for a second time. “It was a great tournament, it’s just fun,” said Peter Wolf, who only entered the tournament on the second day. “The three guys delivered a top performance on Day 1, I only had to deliver in the semi-finals and finals,” said the 30-year-old. Next year, the team wants to defend its title: “We will be back”, promised Paul Becker and Peter Wolf. The local favourites Yannic Beck, Julius Höfer, Sebastian Burgis, and Florian Schweikart took bronze following a 2-0 victory in the small final.
Host Gaston Höpfl and his agency received praise from all sides. “It’s just fun to gamble here,” said Julius Höfer, looking at the fully occupied seats on the Centre Court. Melanie Gernert was also enthusiastic: “The spectators are the fifth woman for us, they did push us a lot.”
The head of tourism in Oberstaufen, Ms Constanze Höfinghoff, was also “totally thrilled by the atmosphere, the audience was really great”. Together with Oberstaufen’s Mayor Martin Beckel, she looks forward to the future. “I am a fan of Volleyball. I am very happy that the German Snow Volleyball Championships will be held here in Oberstaufen for the next two years too,” said Martin Bickel.
Klaus Drauschke, President of the Bavarian Volleyball Association, also had nothing but praise:
“Volleyball is a way of life, whether in the hall, on the sand or in the snow. We saw that again this weekend. It was great. I am proud of all the players, who delivered a huge show this weekend, fair and with a lot of fun – that’s what Volleyball should look like.”
German Volleyball Federation (DVV) Board of Administration member Julia Frauendorf thanked Oberstaufen and all volunteers for a “very well-organised event in a great atmosphere. Snow Volleyball, German Championships and Oberstaufen are a perfect match. I look forward to working together with you all in the coming years.”
Not only the professionals dug up the snow in Oberstaufen PARK this past weekend, but also the 9th grade students from Immenstadt, who were able to try out Snow Volleyball with the help of Florian Schweikart on Friday as part of the Kids Day. Students from the University of Augsburg made their first attempts in the snow on Friday too.