Setback games like volleyball are characterized by the fact that a game is only decided when the last point has been played and the match point has been converted. In this respect, the regulations in the European Cup have a tension-destroying imbalance. Because in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup between VC Wiesbaden (VCW) and Igor Gorgonzola Norvara, it was already clear who would advance to the final when the match was far from over.
At 9:01 p.m. on Wednesday evening, the guests from Piedmont converted an attack to make it 25:21 in the third set, leading 2-1 – and after the 3-1 win from the first leg, the Wiesbaden women were no longer able to add both games to catch up. The drop in tension on the field and stands was striking – there was only a half-hour encore left in the game.
Wiesbaden’s co-coach Christian Sossenheimer, who led the team on behalf of Benedikt Frank, who was handicapped with a torn patellar tendon, changed all of the regular players for the fourth set in order to spare them for future tasks. The understudy around young setter Pauline Bietau did a good job, even leading 10:6 and 14:13 – but the star ensemble on the other side also let the VCW B team have their way. Only when the set was coming to an end did Novara turn up the heat and win this round 25:21 and the overall match 3:1.
The European Cup campaign for the VCW ended with third place – due to a lack of bronze medals, which the European association had not planned for, VCW managing director Christopher Fetting handed out roses and prosecco to his players so that they did not have to leave empty-handed. Fetting was extremely satisfied with the European adventure, not only in terms of sport but also economically – after all, the VCW had thrown top teams such as Galatasaray Istanbul and Paok Saloniki out of the competition. In addition, the hall at the Place of German Unity was sold out three times in a row with 2,100 spectators.
The VC Wiesbaden players (in blue) gave everything: it wasn’t enough against Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Photo: Detlef Gottwald
The VCW players around the dominant diagonal attacker Jaidyn Blanchfield also drew an overall positive conclusion from their European trip. As a side effect of the series of successes, the American came to Greece and Turkey for the first time – albeit only for two days each. She was denied a final visit to France against final opponent Neptunes Nantes.
The downside of the lack of a bronze medal was the drop in performance in the Bundesliga, which was accompanied by the exertions in the Challenge Cup. Most recently, after a ten-hour bus ride from Novara to Suhl, the VCW team lost their last chance for fifth place with a 3-1 defeat – and thus for participation in the intermediate round of the top teams.
Achim Dreis, Wiesbaden Published/Updated: Recommendations: 3 Achim Dreis, Wiesbaden Published/Updated: Recommendations: 2 Achim Dreis Published/Updated: ,
Instead, the VCW has to defend its position in the table against opponents from the bottom half of the table in order to be able to attack again in the play-offs. The home game against USC Münster continues on Saturday (5 p.m.) – and because not only the players are tired, but possibly the fans too, everyone can decide for themselves how much entry fee the consolation round game is worth to them. What is certain is that the match will only be decided when the last ball touches the ground.
