Good news from Münster: Chiara Hoenhorst has awoken from coma and her condition is improving. There is hope that she can fully recover from her injuries
Interview with Stuttgarter newspaper of Dutch captain Deborah van Daelen: she estimates chances of Stuttgart winning the championship for the first time (kind of successor of the legendary, but vanished CJD Feuerbach) at 50 to 50, and the first (home) match will be of special meaning, i.e. psychologically, to get an edge on the series. My hope is, to win all three home matches (at least).
No reason given, especially no injury, and 27 is not exactly the age to cease a professional volleyball career without good reason - maybe lack of motivation now or she wants to get into "real", i.e. normal life also for earning her living with perspective?
What's the point of continuing? She hasn't improved in the last 6-7 years after being a great prospect in junior age, Guidetti even compared her to Fürst back then. She has come to a point where she probably had to decide if she plays for some weak team for a salary that barely allows her to live or if she calls it a day and starts into "real life", and I appreciate that she chose the 2nd option.
The last day before the final series starts Schwerins and Germanys head coach Koslowski also told 50:50 chances for both teams.
Both sides consider the first match as being very important, despite it is a best-of-five series, but I think, this is mostly a psychologically advantage to win the first match.