Suhl shocks Schwerin: VfB wins first playoff semifinal

VfB Suhl started the playoff semifinals of the Volleyball Bundesliga with a 3:1 victory against the defending champions from Schwerin, thus securing the first of two necessary wins in the best-of-three series. After a flawless start, the match wavered – but Suhl remained stable at the crucial moment and brought the lead home.

The hosts dominated the first two sets clearly, before Schwerin took control of the match for longer phases. In the fourth set, when the guests were clearly ahead at times, Suhl decided the match in a tight final phase with 26:24.

Suhl takes the lead with two clear sets

The start was almost ideal from Suhl's perspective. In the first set, VfB set the tone early, earned a series of set points, and converted the first of eleven opportunities to win 25:13. Suhl remained the dominant team in the second set as well: at 25:16, the South Thuringians converted the second of a total of nine set points.

The force of these two sets determined the picture of the evening for a long time. Suhl seemed a bit faster in the first rallies of each point, more forceful in finishing, and more consistent in decisive actions – forcing Schwerin to react early.

Schwerin comes back and increases the pressure

In the third set, the game turned. Suhl noticeably lost control, while Schwerin became more present in the contested phases and took the set 25:23. The defending champion was back in the match – and took the momentum with them.

Suhl also came under increasing pressure in the fourth set. Schwerin was clearly ahead at times and seemed to be pulling the set towards a deciding set. The previously confident performance turned into a knife-edge duel: every mistake weighed heavier, every won rally became a small lever in a match that was suddenly wide open.

Two saved set points decide the match

In the final phase, Suhl then showed the nerves of steel that often make the difference in playoffs. VfB saved two set points in the fourth set – exactly the points with which Schwerin could have closed the set. Instead, Suhl went on a 3:0 run, turned the set around, and finally used the first match point to win 26:24.

With the 3:1, Suhl leads the best-of-three series 1:0. The victory is an important step, as another win is enough to advance to the next round. The second match is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8, at 6:00 p.m. in Schwerin. Suhl thus travels with momentum and the certainty of having already shown the favorite their limits in the first duel.