The German national team finished its participation in the second week of the Volleyball Nations League with a victory. Massimo Botti's team defeated China 3:1 (25:20, 25:20, 22:25, 25:19) in Gliwice (Poland) and concluded the tournament with a balance of two wins and two losses.
A day after their defeat by hosts Poland, the Germans showed a significantly more stable performance, especially in blocking and defense. The block proved to be the decisive weapon for the Bundesteam, scoring 15 block points against just 8 for the Chinese. The top scorer for the winners was opposite hitter Jan Böhme with 19 points, and Moritz Reichert added 15.
The first two sets were entirely under Germany's control, as they dominated with aggressive serving and stable defensive organization. However, the Chinese got back into the match after winning the third set and even took a 12:8 lead in the fourth part.
That's when the crucial moment of the match arrived. Middle blocker Simon Torwie stepped up to serve and with a series of strong serves, including two aces, helped Germany turn the score to 17:12 and practically decide the outcome of the encounter.
Statistics also showed the Germans' superiority. Although China scored more points in attack (52 against 48), Germany compensated with an impressive 15 blocks against 8, and both teams recorded 5 aces each. The Chinese also committed significantly more unforced errors – 29 against 19.
Particularly noteworthy were the 56 digs in defense by the Germans against 47 for China, which once again emphasized the team's effectiveness in the defense-block phase.
After eight matches played, Germany has a record of 4 wins and 4 losses and remains in the fight for a place in the Final Eight of the tournament. Currently, the Germans are 11th in the VNL provisional standings, and their success also brought them 1.28 points for the world ranking, with which their total reached 256.59 points, and they maintained their 9th place in the world.
In the final week of the Nations League, Germany will face Slovenia, Iran, Serbia, and Ukraine in an attempt to secure a spot among the eight teams that will participate in the Final Eight in the Chinese city of Ningbo.

photo:volleyballworld.com