Giesen opened the 2026 VBL Supercup with a commanding home performance, defeating Ludwigsburg 3-1 on 17 October 2026 to lift the season's first trophy. In a match that swung on serving pressure and the quality of Giesen's block, the hosts took the sets 25-22, 23-25, 25-19 and 25-21, closing out a contest that was far more controlled than the scoreline suggests.

As the traditional curtain-raiser of the German volleyball calendar, the Supercup carries extra weight: it is the first competitive examination of a squad after the summer rebuild, and it sets the tone for the Bundesliga campaign that follows. Giesen answered every question asked of them, while Ludwigsburg left with credit but also with clear areas to fix before the league season gets going.

Match Overview

Giesen started the brighter of the two sides, taking an early lead behind aggressive serving from the back line and a disciplined block that repeatedly forced Ludwigsburg's outside hitters into difficult angles. The visitors steadied in the second set, tightening their reception and finding rhythm in transition to level the match at one set apiece.

From there, however, the home side reasserted control. A decisive middle stretch in the third set, built on a run of blocks and two aces, broke Ludwigsburg's resistance, and Giesen carried that momentum through a tense but well-managed fourth set to seal the title.

• Result: Giesen 3-1 Ludwigsburg
• Set scores: 25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 25-21
• Competition: VBL Supercup
• Date: 17 October 2026
• Attack points: Giesen 58 – 49 Ludwigsburg
• Blocks: Giesen 11 – 7 Ludwigsburg
• Aces: Giesen 8 – 4 Ludwigsburg

Set-by-Set: The Key Moments

First set (25-22): Giesen set the tone immediately, jumping out to a four-point cushion by the first technical timeout. Ludwigsburg clawed back to within one at 21-20, but a block on the right side and a sharp cross-court finish from the back row closed the door.

Second set (23-25): The visitors finally found their passing rhythm. Ludwigsburg's libero covered the deep corners well and the setters began connecting with the middles, opening up the wings. Giesen saved two set points but could not stop a well-placed serve that clipped the line to level the match.

Third set (25-19): This was the turning point. Giesen went on a 6-1 run midway through the set, sparked by two consecutive blocks and an ace down the middle. Ludwigsburg's coach burned both timeouts trying to disrupt the rhythm, but the hosts' serve-receive stayed clean and the lead never dipped below four again.

Fourth set (25-21): Ludwigsburg led briefly at 12-10, their last real foothold in the match. Giesen responded with a patient side-out game, drew level at 15-15, and then pulled away with a four-point surge. A thunderous block on match point sealed the trophy.

Tactical Story

The match was decided at the service line. Giesen's serving strategy was clear and disciplined: target the seam between the outside hitters and the libero, keep the ball floaty and deep, and make Ludwigsburg's setter run. That pressure produced a steady stream of imperfect first contacts, which in turn limited the visitors to predictable, high-ball attacking against a well-organized double block.

Giesen's middle blockers were the quiet architects of the win. Even when they did not record a direct block, their lateral movement forced Ludwigsburg's hitters to alter shots, and the defensive unit behind them picked up the resulting tips and roll shots with impressive consistency. In transition, Giesen's opposite hitter carried a heavy load and delivered under pressure, converting repeatedly when the pass was less than perfect.

Ludwigsburg's best stretches came when they managed to keep the ball alive and extend rallies. Their floor defense was outstanding at times, and in the second set they showed what the team can do when the reception holds. The problem was sustainability: too many rotations ended in a scramble, and their blocking scheme struggled to adjust once Giesen began using the pipe attack more frequently in the later sets.

Standout Performers

Giesen's opposite hitter, Milan Vukovic, was the outstanding individual on the floor, finishing with a match-high 24 points including four aces. Outside hitter Lukas Brandt added 19 points and was the team's most reliable option in the tight moments of the fourth set, while middle blocker Jonas Feldmann contributed five blocks that repeatedly stalled Ludwigsburg's momentum. Setter Tobias Renz distributed intelligently, keeping all four attacking positions involved and varying the temp