Match report All hopes rest on the return leg

SWD powervolleys Düren lose the first semifinal at SVG Lüneburg 0-3 (18-25, 31-33, 15-25). Düren were close in the second set but otherwise chasing the game. To force a deciding match, Düren must win the sold-out return leg at home on Sunday.

A foot in the door, nothing more

Cup winners and favorites Lüneburg targeted Düren's weak spot for long stretches. The injury situation had not improved: three of four outside hitters were out, including Robin Baghdady and Zac Hutcheson. Head coach Christophe Achten explained that his team was therefore playing with a line-up that had not played together. Despite all the effort, it is hard to hold your own away against a team like Lüneburg like that.

Ryan Poole remained the only specialist outside hitter, so the second position had to be filled differently. For two sets, Lüneburg served so aggressively that Düren’s build-up suffered and their attacks became predictable. With no replacements available, Düren could not make changes.

The turning point: set two

Only in the second set did Düren keep their structure, and they regretted four missed counter-attack chances that would have meant a clearer lead. The team came back several times with great spirit but could not land the final blow. A Lüneburg save prevented Düren from winning the set at 29-29, and SVG eventually closed it out 33-31. Achten called it doubly bitter: everyone gives everything, but without that understanding it is very hard against such an opponent at 30-30.

After that, little went right for Düren without options on the bench, and almost everything for Lüneburg. At 6-14 in the third set, Düren took every risk on serve but made many errors.

Achten stressed how well the team copes with the injuries – many others would have bigger problems. That makes the bad luck right now all the more frustrating. He could not say whether injured players would return. The only certainty: at home, with the crowd behind them, the team will try everything.