Berlin Recycling Volleys claimed the VBL Supercup with a 3-1 victory over VfB Friedrichshafen, producing a performance of serving pressure, blocking discipline, and timely attacking quality. The match, played on 17 October 2026, finished 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 25-18 in favour of the Berlin side, giving the club early-season silverware and a psychological edge in one of German volleyball’s most familiar rivalries.

Match overview: Berlin’s serve sets the tone

Berlin Recycling Volleys entered the Supercup with intent and immediately put Friedrichshafen under pressure from the service line. The home side’s aggressive serving disrupted reception patterns and allowed the block to set a firm structure at the net. Friedrichshafen, as expected, found answers in spells and produced a strong second set, but Berlin’s ability to reassert control after the interval proved decisive.

This was a match of momentum shifts rather than a one-sided contest. Friedrichshafen’s outside attack carried them back into the match in the second set, but Berlin’s tactical adjustments and superior transition play in the third and fourth sets tilted the contest firmly back in the home team’s favour.

Set-by-set: how the Supercup was won

• First set, 25-22: Berlin edged a tight opening set with a late run of serves and a crucial block at the net. Friedrichshafen stayed within touching distance but could not find a response at the decisive moment.
• Second set, 23-25: Friedrichshafen improved its reception, used the middle attack more effectively, and took a close set. The visitors’ outside hitters found rhythm, and Berlin’s serving pressure briefly dropped.
• Third set, 25-20: Berlin restored order with a sharper service game and better floor defense. The home side’s block began to read Friedrichshafen’s attack, creating transition opportunities that were converted with consistency.
• Fourth set, 25-18: Berlin pulled away early and never allowed Friedrichshafen back into the set. A combination of aces, block touches, and clean side-outs closed out the trophy.

Key moments that decided the match

The end of the first set was a warning sign for Friedrichshafen. Having stayed level for long stretches, the visitors conceded a late run built on serve pressure and a well-timed block. That pattern returned in the third set, when Berlin created separation in the middle phase and forced Friedrichshafen into rushed attacking choices.

The fourth set was the clearest illustration of Berlin’s control. An early serving run forced a Friedrichshafen timeout, and the home side maintained a comfortable cushion through the technical timeout. Friedrichshafen tried to change the rhythm with substitutions, but Berlin’s defensive structure held firm and the closing points were managed with maturity.

Tactical story: service pressure and block defense

Berlin’s game plan was built around making Friedrichshafen play from uncomfortable positions. By serving with pace and purpose, Berlin reduced the quality of Friedrichshafen’s first contact and forced the visitors into more predictable outside attacks. That allowed Berlin’s middle blockers to close the net and gave the back-row defense a clearer picture of where to position themselves.

Friedrichshafen’s best spell came when it managed to keep the ball away from Berlin’s block and involve the middle attacker. In the second set, that variation stretched Berlin’s defense and opened space on the wings. The problem was sustainability: once Berlin raised its serve-receive and transition intensity in the third set, Friedrichshafen struggled to reproduce the same attacking variety.

Standout performers

• Berlin Recycling Volleys’ opposite hitter: Delivered a high-volume attacking performance and carried the team through several long rallies, especially in the third set.
• Johannes Tille (Berlin Recycling Volleys): Controlled the tempo and distributed well under pressure, keeping Friedrichshafen’s block guessing between the pins and the middle.
• Berlin’s libero: Anchored the back court with important defensive plays and helped turn defense into transition points.
• VfB Friedrichshafen’s outside hitters: Produced the visitors’ most consistent attacking threat, particularly during their second-set revival.

What the result means for the season ahead

The VBL Supercup result gives Berlin Recycling Volleys an early trophy and a confidence boost before the main Volleyball Bundesliga campaign gathers pace. The win also adds another chapter to the head-to-head rivalry with Friedrichshafen, one of the defining matchups in German men’s voll