The volleyball players from Allianz MTV Stuttgart equalized 1-1 after a dramatic game in the playoff final for the German championship against SSC Palmberg Schwerin. After the opening defeat against the Bundesliga record champions, the defending champions deservedly won the second game in the "best-of-five" series on Wednesday in Stuttgart with 3:2 (25:14, 25:21, 24:26, 22:25, 15:12) after they had lost a 2-0 lead in the set.

The best point collector was Stuttgart's star attacker Krystal Rivers with 29 points. The third game will take place again in Schwerin on Saturday (5:10 p.m./Sport1). Three wins are required for the title.

The three-time champions from Stuttgart started like crazy in the Scharrena, which was sold out with 2,251 spectators, and put the guests under pressure in the first set with strong serves and furious attacking actions. Bundesliga record champions Schwerin, who are in the playoff final for the first time in five years, found it difficult to get into the game.

The hosts clearly dominated the match until the middle of the third set, but then Schwerin caught themselves and won the round. When Britt Bongaerts from Stuttgart was shown the red card in the fourth set after a contentious situation and long discussions and Schwerin received an additional point, the game seemed to be over. But in the tiebreak, the Stuttgart women, who had been unsettled at the time, found their mental strength back and ultimately deserved to win.

Squad SSC Palmberg Schwerin Squad Allianz MTV Stuttgart Bundesliga playoffs