VfB Suhl LOTTO Thüringen made history by lifting the German Zoi DVV Cup 2026 after a gripping 3–2 victory over Allianz MTV Stuttgart in front of 12,508 fans at a sold-out SAP Arena.
Suhl claimed the final 25:17, 25:18, 15:25, 23:25, 15:13, sealing their first cup title since 2008 and only the second in club history. Captain Roosa Laakkonen delivered the decisive block at 15–13 in the fifth set, sparking emotional celebrations on court.
The Thüringen side dominated the opening two sets with sharp serving, disciplined blocking, and a powerful attacking display led by Monica Brancuska. Stuttgart, however, refused to fold. Lucia Varela and Mikala Mogensen helped shift momentum as Stuttgart stormed back to take sets three and four and force a tie-break.
The deciding set was tight from start to finish. With the score level at 13–13, Suhl held their nerve. A key block earned match point before Laakkonen closed it out in dramatic fashion. Monika Brancuska finished as the match’s top scorer with 33 points, anchoring Suhl’s offense throughout the contest.
The victory ends Suhl’s long title drought and marks a historic farewell for Mannheim as host city, with the DVV Cup final set to move to Cologne in 2027.
