Match report Highly motivated into the semifinal

An important goal has been reached: SWD powervolleys Düren are in the Bundesliga semifinal. Now the team will do everything to go further, says head coach Christophe Achten ahead of the first match against cup winners and top team SVG Lüneburg. The series between the fourth- and first-placed teams of the regular season starts on Sunday at 17:00 in Lüneburg. Dyn broadcasts live, and the Posti sports bar in Düren city center hosts a public viewing.

Lots of confidence

Achten describes his team as highly motivated and confident. That confidence comes from the quarterfinal against Helios Grizzlys Giesen, which Düren won despite difficult circumstances. Whether things improve is open: outside hitters Robin Baghdady (back) and Zac Hutcheson (foot) already missed the return leg in Giesen, and whether they can play will probably be decided on match day. That leaves Ryan Poole as the only specialist outside hitter, and the second position must again be filled by a player who usually plays elsewhere.

Extremely compact Lüneburg

Achten pays tribute to the opponent: Lüneburg are extremely compact, make hardly any errors and have top players in every position. Reliable reception, strong setting, effective hitters and precise defense mark the team of former Düren player Stefan Hübner.

Lüneburg are also in the European cup final against Piacenza (Italy). Because the final blocks the midweek dates, the semifinal is played as best of three instead of best of five: two wins are enough to reach the final.

A highly motivated underdog

Against this strong SVG side, Düren are surely the underdogs, Achten says – a role that seems to suit the team, as the quarterfinal showed. The team proved in the regular season that it can beat Lüneburg: with a 3-0 win in the first meeting and a narrow 2-3 defeat in Lüneburg.