Match report Uncompromising and almost error-free

SWD powervolleys Düren stay on course and win their third match of the Bundesliga season 3-0 as well. At Baden Volleys SSC Karlsruhe, the surprise team of the season start, they won 25-18, 25-23 and 25-19.

Strong libero, strong setter

Libero Troy Gooch and setter Robert Viiber shaped Düren’s build-up. Gooch was needed because Mischa Kosyak was not available. Head coach Christophe Achten praised how well Gooch played despite his recent injury and little training. The experienced libero covered a lot of court, passed reliably and impressed in defence, and he was voted MVP after the match. That let Viiber spread the ball across all his hitters, who converted at good rates.

Karlsruhe only kept pace for the first third of the opening set. Philipp Lauter blocked for 10-8, Marcin Ernastowicz finished a counter-attack for 15-11, and an ace from Lauter for 21-16 all but settled the set.

No compromises at the end

The second set was tighter. Düren’s serves lost pressure while Karlsruhe improved in that element. The hosts came back from 13-16 and led 18-17. Then Düren played uncompromising, almost error-free volleyball again: Preslav Petkov blocked for 19-18 and Lauter finished a counter-attack for 21-19. The team held on to that narrow lead until the end of the set.

The captain seals it

After the break, captain Viiber served Düren into an 8-3 lead – sometimes placing the ball so that Karlsruhe could no longer build an organised attack, sometimes scoring directly. Achten said Viiber had found Karlsruhe’s weak spots and exploited them consistently, calling it a mature performance by the captain and the whole team. Another Viiber ace for 17-10 decided the match.