Berlin Recycling Volleys won their fifth consecutive German Men’s Volleyball Bundesliga Ligacup defeating host Helios Grizzlys Giesen in a five-set thriller at Sparkassen-Arena.
Berlin, led by coach Andrea Anastasi, secured a 3-2 victory (27-25, 23-25, 25-20, 26-28, 15-13) to maintain unbeaten record in the competition since its inception.
Giesen, appearing in its first national final, challenged the defending champions throughout the match before falling narrowly in the deciding set in front of 2,040 spectators.
Tom Koops, Nolan Flexen and Alexandru Rata scored 22 points apiece for Berlin, with Rata delivering the match-winning point. Giesen outside hitter Lars Migge was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while Koops received the Newcomer of the Tournament award.
In the third-place match, VfB Friedrichshafen beat SVG Lüneburg 3-2. FT 1844 Freiburg finished fifth after defeating MTV Ludwigsburg 3-2, while SWD powervolleys Düren claimed seventh with a 3-1 victory over Netzhoppers Königs Wusterhausen.
The three-day tournament, held Oct. 16-18, drew a record 5,320 spectators.
