TV Refrath opened its season with a 6-1 victory over 1. BV Mülheim, though team manager Heinz Kelzenberg noted the opening fixture was far closer than the final scoreline suggests.
Hard-Fought Opening Fixture
The season opener on September 28, 2026, required maximum effort from the home side at the start of the match. Selin Hübsch and Leona Michalski dropped a tightly contested doubles match 14-15 in the fifth set, handing Mülheim an early edge. However, the men’s doubles pairings of Jan Colin Völker alongside Kausemann, and Fabian Roth alongside Brian Holtschke, turned the momentum in favor of Refrath.
Singles Success and Olympic Return
Florentine Schöffski, Brian Holtschke, and Fabian Roth secured victories in their respective singles matches to consolidate the lead. Particular attention focused on Roth, who returned to Bundesliga action after an absence of over a year and a half. The 2024 Olympian handled Scotland’s Pringle in three games, showing no signs of rust following his extended hiatus from domestic league play.
Decisive Mixed Doubles Climax
The fixture concluded with a high-pressure mixed doubles encounter. Jan Colin Völker and Leona Michalski claimed an 11-6 victory in the fifth set of the final match of the day, sealing the 6-1 scoreline. Team manager Heinz Kelzenberg emphasized that the score did not reflect the actual drama on the courts throughout the afternoon.
Upcoming Schedule
With the opening victory secured, TV Refrath turns its attention to a key away fixture. In two weeks, the team travels to face Blau-Weiß Wittorf Neumünster. That matchup pits contenders against each other as both clubs, alongside Lüdinghausen, battle for positioning ahead of the 2027 Final Four.
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