Display MoreAnd the big final is, rather surprisingly, Dresden vs Wiesbaden
Stuttgart - Wiesbaden 1:3 (25:21 19:25 24:26 19:25)
http://live.volleyball-bundesliga.de/2017-18/Women/8112.pdf
MVP: Pia Kästner / Karolina Bednarova
Dresden - Schwerin 3:2 (17:25 25:23 18:25 25:21 15:10)
http://live.volleyball-bundesliga.de/2017-18/Women/8113.pdf
MVP: Barbara Wezorke (82% att., 5 blocks, 3 aces / Jelena Oluic
Aaaand Karma strikes back at Stuttgart after their complaints over the bad level of the league below the top 3 teams
Even though I like Stuttgart's team I am really happy about Wiesbaden winning today. The key was Stuttgart with 31 errors in 4 sets and Wiesbaden only 16.
The other match was rather disappointing for 3 sets, then Alex Waibl finally found his best line-up with Strumilo adding some power from pos.4 and Wezorke playing a great match. Louisa Lippmann hurt her shoulder in 4th set and went out for some rallies, she returned later but it was obvious that she wasn't feeling well, she was great before and invisible after, and it was also clear that Schwerin's setters gave her far less balls than usual. Also Szakmary disappeared in the 2nd half of 4th set, so Dresden got a chance to win and used it. Schwerin without Geerties due to a skin inflammation in her face combined with a bad cold that made it impossible for her to play today and she was missed a lot in reception and defense.
Interesting, because it was at least a small surprise, that even with home advantage Dresden could stun Schwerin twice in a row, because Schwerin is IMHO definitely the stronger team (generally).
Indeed, one could have won much money betting on this final Dresden vs. Wiesbaden .
Regarding Stuttgart: they definitely didn't deserve to win today, despite we tried to help a lot, they were unable to perform normally - as Matthias wrote, way to many mistakes similar as Schwerin in Wiesbaden some days ago, but everybody knew about this challenge, so this is no excuse. Wiesbaden is receiving and serving strongly for many years now, so this was no surprise, and Stuttgart could after the first set never reestablish its superiority on the indivdual level, because they found never a well working setup today.
From the point of view as a Stuttgart fan: this is only a little sad, what we should really care for is the championship this year, because we were three times in a row "only" second, and never won so far, while they won the first supercup (of so far two) and three DVV cups until now. They should now get their priorities straight, which is easier as when playing in Mannheim. And for the first time the roster of Stuttgart is both regarding individually and in its width and potential good enough, to endure the late phases of the championship even with one bigger injury. This was intentionally made by the management having more money available and a number of years ago Dresden could similary dethrone Dresden going exactly the same path.
Despite Dresden is favourite against Wiesbaden in Mannheim cup finals, I will wish Wiesbaden the best, they never won any title so far - and Dresden is saturated also with cup wins already .