Eugene Benzel log. Without batting an eyelash. As the volleyball players of the SC Potsdam last Saturday, denied their last Bundesliga main round match of this season at League leaders MTV Stuttgart and in the decisive fifth set went, asked you in advance to your team Manager, as it stood at the matches of the competition. Would rich the a point to secure fourth place? Or a victory had to be mandatory? Didn’t have to. The other Teams were playing for the benefit of the citizens of Potsdam. “But that’s not needed to know our girls, Yes,” says Benzel, and grins mischievously. “I let you believe that we need to have success.” He wanted to challenge you. And the team took on the task under false pretenses shiny, by 3:2 triumphed in the main, around master.

the team Manager had speculated. “That was perfect,” says Benzel. “With a better experience, so a Happy ending, you can’t but even in the Play-offs go.” This start for the SC Potsdam this Saturday with the home game in the MBS Arena against the fifth-ranked Red ravens Vilsbiburg (16.10 Uhr/Sport1).

to reach his tenth Premier League season under the ambitious Brandenburg Association is now another start-up, for the first time in the semi-finals of the Play-offs. “This is the next step that we really wanted to go already for a long time,” says sports Director Toni Rieger. Gradually, the SCP developed, had professionalized, increasingly. After three years in the lower table area of the Potsdam moved inside 2013 for the first Time in the Play-offs. There have since been a regular guest. But only in the first round. Always the quarter was the final Terminus.

“We are convinced that we can do it now finally. We are ready,“ stressed captain Anne Hölzig to the second-best round of the club’s history. Two years ago, when the SCP was also already once in the Fourth, brought the Team average of 1,91 points per game. This time it was of 1.77. Toni Rieger know significantly more counter. “Our team has great potential. You could not retrieve it.“ Also, you don’t have to be rewarded often for the fighter qualities. The “killer instinct” was missing multiple times, says the US-American middle blocker Nia Grant. Including the national Cup, in which the SCP as of 2016, was eliminated in the semi-finals, had to the citizens of Potsdam this season, eight times in a Tie-Break to complete. As often as any other team. But only two 3:2 victories, jumped out at the end.

Marta Drpa – with the exception of player of the SCP

One of the last in Stuttgart. This is the first time Potsdam’s away victory against the Swabian Top Team of the SCP showed the power, as you envision Rieger. “We need to score a variable,” he urges. In Stuttgart, the same four-game values obtained inside double-digit point. At the top with 30 meters Marta Drpa – with the exception of player of the SCP, however. And the entire League.

Since 2016, the Serbian is playing in Potsdam, was the first to be third best, second best and now best Scorerin the main round. 433 points, you a stunner in this season thanks to their remarkable blend of Premium, feeling full of attack sophistication and block thickness. This is about a third more than the second in the rank list, Schwerin Kimberly Drewniok placed. “Marta is important for us, very important. She is the one that takes the difficult balls and to be responsible,“ said Rieger. “But the point is: We should not always rely all too much on Marta.” Behind the almost 30-year-old, diagonal attacker to hide the Team too often. “But only if the other will give you the necessary relief, it can develop properly.”

break with a temper

As in Stuttgart. When the victory of Guillermo Hernandez flourished, full of bliss. The Spaniard was won from 2013 to 2017, coach, MTV, twice the Cup and Vice-champion was twice before the paths diverged necessarily in a Good way. Since last December he is now as the head coach for the SCP, after the club had terminated the cooperation with Davide Carli. The was confusing. The first was denied, but then confirmed, to say finally, only nebulous, the separation was due to personal reasons. Both sides thanked each other for two and a half years together, were in addition, however, tight-lipped. The theme is ticked off, stressed Rieger, while team Manager Benzel with a view to the team says: “all This was not easy for the girls.”

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Ultimately, you have mastered the break with the spirited Hernandez. However, it is not managed in this season so far: to be Successful against Play-off opponents Red ravens Vilsbiburg. Away suffered, the SC Potsdam 0:3 defeat at home the Team had 2:3 the Check. “That will change now”, the voice on the Benzel from the maximum three games of the quarter-final series. Only if there are two victories to be brought, would of Potsdam anniversary season a real Happy ending.