Display MoreThe runner-ups in this season for me will be
1. Düren (they always had good players, but now they also have a trainer )
2. Rottenburg (only weak point I see in this team is the opposite position)
3. Lüneburg (slightly improved roster but still probably best trainer in league)
And there are two "jacks-in-the-box"
1. United Volleys RheinMain have the best roster I have ever seen of a promoted team. BUT ... it's their first year and the level behind the first seven is not that good.
2. Herrsching with very good recruitments. Steuerwald, Tille, Ondrovic, even Trenkler will give them a boost. Questions are their second outside and opposite position (do they have a backup for Malescha ?)
Season opening match live on http://www.vbl.tv :
Friday, 23.10.15, 19.30 CET United Volleys Rhein/Main vs. VfB Friedrichshafen
With the Bundesliga to start on Friday i still owe my point of view towards the teams behind Friedrichshafen and Berlin. I would rank them as follows:
3. Düren
New coach Anton Brams is considered the "wunderkind" of german coaches. He is younger than some of his players and for sure has a very different approach to teaching volleyball than his predecessor Michael Mücke. I am especially curious on US setter Matt West, who is on wide roster of US NT. If he performs well, the team should come in third.
4. Lüneburg
Best scorer of last season, Tijmen Laane, left the club but with the canadians Steven Marshall and Nic del Bianco (i heard already good things about him) they should have replaced him well. With young prospect Adam Kocian they improved the 2nd setter position as well. They look rather thin on the MB position (Kevorken, Schlien, Kruse) but their firepower and depth from the wings should make up for this.
5. Rottenburg
They have a very balanced squad and seem to be eager to come in better than last year. They always used to start the season well but in the end they often ran out of steam. Most of the players are rather "semi" professional and are seriously studying or even working and for me, thats one reason why i rank them below Lüneburg and Düren who imo have a more "professional" attempt. I will have a special look on young german hopeful Moritz Karlitzek and how he performs in his new club.
6. TSV Herrsching
Like "Bayer" already said they seriously improved their squad. Tille, Steuerwald, Ondrovic and Trenkler will add quality. But still, like in Rottenburg, most of the guys are "semi professionals" and lets see how they come together as a team and if they can keep up their "fun" with raised expectations.
7. United Volleys RheinMain
Great project and i really hope they will do well. It is a good opportunity for guys like Jan Zimmermann and Moritz Reichert to show what they can.
if they perform well they can even reach a higher position.
8. TV Ingersoll Bühl
They had a real bad season last year but still they have a very good MB-Duo with Mote/Mayaula. Like Matt West from Düren, the new setter Graham Mcilvaine was part of the B-squad of US NT. A lot will depend on improvement of young austrian opposite Paul Buchegger and how the OHs will deliver on reception. If the MBs can be used, they are a dangerous team and even can perform better.
9./10./11. Coburg/Grub, CV Mitteldeutschland, Netzhoppers
Iwould give Coburg/Grub the best chances for a surprise. They added former Bühl players Mauler and Kostolani to their squad and if everything goes well they might even avoid the pre-play-offs.
Imo,especially places 5-8 are very "open" and i am not very sure if I got them really right. But as i already said the overall quality should have improved compared to last year and i am really looking forward to the new season