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Berlin Volleys: The special way to Europe’s peak

Volleybox 2015-03-11 • 1936 views
 
Berlin Volleys: The special way to Europe’s peak

Champions League 2014/15 Final Four on March 28-29 in Berlin will be the highlight of the more recent club history of Berlin Volleys. The successful Champions League era of the German national champion began back in the season of 2012/2013. Head coach Mark Lebedew reviews previous European highlights of his team and describes the club’s evolution into an international top team.

Mark Lebedew still remembers his first Champions League game with his team in October 2012. At his time the club has not competed in Europe’s most elitist club competition for seven years. "Of course there was uncertainty about whether we would be able to play on the same level as the other European clubs". But the concerns were clearly unfounded: The 3:0 victory against the Czech Team Budejovice was the starting point of a successful Champions League comeback. Lebedew remembers: "Our clear victory showed us that we would be able to show a comparable performance as in the Bundesliga". 

However, the success against the Czech champion was one of many. Since 2012 the team from Germany’s capital city has won against teams supposed to be the favourites. Already within their comeback season the Berlin Volleys walked over the future European champion Novosibirsk  with 3:1 at Max-Schmeling-Halle. "After winning one set in the first round we knew that we were able to play in the upper league", head coach Lebedew says adding: "But I didn’t expect to win the rematch all-dominant".

Since that time there was an ever growing certainty that the men in orange would be able to beat Europe’s top clubs making use of the home advantage. In that season the German champion played two hard-fought duels against the Russian giant Zenit Kazan and lost both with a close 2-3 run. In 2013 they managed to edge the Italian top team Trentino 3:1. Mark Lebedew is confident: "We know that we can beat every team at Max-Schmeling-Halle".

Not only with the results on the court but also with the organisation and their media work the Berlin Volleys gained respect and appreciation in Europe. Already in their comeback season 2012/2013 the European Volleyball Confederation CEV rewarded the achievement of the Berlin Volleys the "Best Organiser Award". In the subsequent season 2013/2014 the team of manager Kaweh Niroomand and office manager Matthias Klee was awarded the "Best Press Award". Now the European "shooting star" is the first German host of the Volleyball Champions League Final Four - an explicit statement for Berlin as a Volleyball location in the heart of the continent.

Therefore the Berlin Volleys had to reach the Playoffs - as they did finishing the first round as second ranked team in their group. In fact, they lost the re-match against the Polish group favourite Resovia  Rzeszów with 2:3 but dominated the away game with 3:0 against the club of German national team captain Jochen Schöps before. Lebedew approves: "Our strength in the away game was another step in our development". 

How does the Berlin team, with 2008 Olympic champion Scott Touzinsky, manages to keep up with the best teams of the continent while having a comparatively small budget? Lebedew mentions three reasons for the international advancement of BR Volleys. First of all they benefit from the home advantage of the ‘volleyball temple’ Max-Schmeling-Halle: "We know that our fans are a massive support for us". Secondly the 47-year-old lists the experience of his team: "Indeed we don’t have any absolute world star. But we have players with a lot of routine who have already played big matches. We are confident because of our organisation, team spirit and know-how". Thirdly the players are highly motivated when they compete in Champions League matches. "We are able to top ourselves in those games. It is not comparable with everyday games because it is charged with relevance". 

Lebedew and his team are focussing on all these elements when they will compete in Champions League 2014/15 Final Four on March 28-29 in Berlin. The head coach does not care about the opponent in the semi-final: "All of them are not only top teams, but also in peak form". Even if the Berlin Volleys will be an underdog, Marc Lebedew wants to seize the chance: "The other teams think we are the least and we want to take advantage of that situation - no matter who will be the opponent". A successful semi-final would already be a sensation - but it wouldn’t be the first time that Berlin Volleys cause a huge surprise in the Volleyball Champions League.

Results of Berlin Volleys (SCC Berlin) in the CEV Champions League:

2000/01: off in the first round as last in their group
2003/04: off in the first round as last in their group
2004/05: Playoffs 12 against Paris Volley (1-3, 2-3)
2012/13: Playoffs 12 against Zenit KAZAN (2-3, 2-3)
2013/14: Playoffs 12 against Zenit KAZAN (0-3, 0-3)
2014/15: qualification for Playoffs, hosts of the Final Four and thereby participant

All information on the CEV Champions League Final Four on March, 28-29 in Berlin:

Website | www.berlin2015.br-volleys.de

Facebook | www.facebook.com/CLfinal4

#ChampionsLeague201415 #BerlinRecyclingVolleys #MarkLebedew

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