Berlin Volleys Celebrate Dominance with Championship Win

Gold confetti rained down on the Berlin Volleys players as the team took a victory lap with the championship trophy. Some players celebrated by drinking beer from their sports shoes, while managing director Kaweh Niroomand kissed the gym floor.

Later, the entire team, along with coach Joel Banks, sang “We are the Champions” in the shower, a ritual that has become customary for the dominant force in German volleyball.

The BR Volleys secured a 3-0 victory against SVG Lüneburg in the third match of the German volleyball championship, held in front of a sold-out audience of 8,553 at the Max-Schmeling-Halle, thus sweeping the final series. This victory marks the 15th championship title for the record champions and their ninth title consecutively.

Emotions After a Tough Season

Before heading out to celebrate in the Berlin night, captain Ruben Schott provided a glimpse into his feelings after a demanding season. “I am just tired and exhausted. It was incredibly tough, but ultimately really great,” said the outside hitter.

Since the Lüneburg team had troubled the Berliners several times during the season, a tightly contested final series was anticipated. However, the challenges seemed to fuel the Berliners‘ determination to establish a clear outcome. Managing director Kaweh Niroomand proudly stated, “I saw a Volleys team that played superb volleyball, except for a few phases.”

Acknowledgment came from the Lüneburg side as well, who reached the finals for the first time since their Bundesliga promotion eleven years ago. SVG manager Matthias Pompe remarked, “The Berliners delivered an incredible team performance; they were incredibly focused.” When this is the case, no other volleyball team in Germany currently stands a chance against the Berliners.

Dominance Affirmed, but a Missed Goal

The Volleys have impressively reaffirmed their exceptional status in German men’s volleyball, sweeping all national competitions. For the third consecutive time, they achieved the Triple: the league cup, the German cup, and the championship.

However, the team fell short of their minimal goal of reaching the quarter-finals in the Champions League, largely due to a wave of illness and injuries, which led to their elimination by Lüneburg.

“We went through a somewhat difficult phase during the season. I am glad we came back so strongly,” said setter Johannes Tille. A turning point was likely their hard-fought 3-2 victory in the championship quarter-finals against the Netzhoppers Königs Wusterhausen.

Following that, the Volleys played almost effortlessly, defeating the Grizzlys Giesen in the semi-finals and Lüneburg in the final, managing to win all matches in a total of 18:1 sets.

League Welcomes New Teams

The Volleyball Bundesliga might have hoped for a more thrilling final series, but there remains hope that Lüneburg can become a serious contender in the future. “We will continue to develop,” Pompe announced.

Additional positive signs for the league include the promotions of SV Warnemünde and Barock Volleys MTV Ludwigsburg, bringing the league up to 15 teams for the upcoming season.

Personnel Questions Ahead

It remains unclear how the roster for the BR Volleys will shape up moving forward. The only confirmed departure is setter Johannes Tille, who is seeking a new challenge in the Polish PlusLiga. Other key players, including MVP Jake Hanes, Kyle Dagostino, Moritz Reichert, and Ruben Schott, have contracts beyond the end of the season, but the current climate sees agents maneuvering players like chess pieces between clubs for appropriate transfer fees.