Betty Hoffmann and Nathalie Braas never want to stop cheering

When things got tough again, Nathalie Braas clapped her hands and cheered her teammates on. Betty Hoffmann motivated the team with loud shouts of “Hop!” when they fell behind, which happened more often this time. It was a difficult first final game for Walferdingen in the Novotel League for women’s volleyball. But after more than two hours and five sets, the defending champion left the field as the winner against the strong challenger Mamer – also thanks to his two leading players.

“It was a hard piece of work. We had a hard time getting into the game,” said captain Braas after the exhausting 3:2 (27:25, 21:25, 25:20, 19:25, 15:9) on Saturday against the team that won the champions in their last meeting had clearly defeated them in the cup final three weeks ago. “I think the cup final took away our confidence. The victory will now help us to rebuild it,” said Braas.

Even players with outstanding careers like she and Hoffmann can sometimes use such mental nudging. Because the two need energy to get the team to win again in difficult situations. “When you’re out of breath yourself, it’s exhausting to get others involved too. That is our role in the team and we are happy with it. I couldn’t do otherwise. “I’m not someone who could stand quietly on the field,” said Hoffmann. “You can never stop cheering. Because if you hang your head, things get even worse,” says Braas.

Hoffmann converted the match point after five sets. As before when she won points, she shouted her joy at the successful attack with a loud “Yesss!” “Games like this are about emotions, they have to come out,” she said.

In the home game of the best-of-three final series, the defending champion fell behind in every set except the fifth. Walferdange staggered but did not fall. Next Saturday (8 p.m.) the team could be crowned champions again with an away win in Mamer. It would be the ninth title since 2011 and the seventh in a row.

Painful failures

The former national players Braas and Hoffmann were there at the first one 13 years ago. You have played a decisive role in shaping a team that has dominated for a long time. How important the two of them still are for Walferdingen was shown in the last few weeks, for example, when the team had to do without them at times.

Walferdingen had finished the regular season undefeated when the worries began. Braas suddenly dropped out of the league semi-final against Petingen, in which the league leaders had entered as clear favorites, due to a serious illness. The 30-year-old, who already plays a key role as a setter, had to go to hospital because of a viral infection. The young second setter Maeva Muhovic represented them well, but Walferdingen then lost the second semi-final. Braas came back for the third, but weakened because the already very slim player had lost several kilograms of weight. With their help, Walferdange reached the final.

Hoffmann was missing from the third league play-offs and the cup semi-finals for professional reasons. She was in action at the Coupe final, but was unable to perform due to her prolonged absence. Braas wasn’t completely back to his strength, and the important all-purpose player Polina Bratuhhina-Pitou was also injured. The cup title went to the competition from Mamer with an unexpectedly clear 0:3. “I was disappointed with the way we lost the cup final. It wasn’t our day,” Braas said.

The conditions before the league final were better again. During the game-free period during the Easter holidays, the team worked diligently. Everyone was fit. Hoffmann believes that this series of finals can continue to be very exciting: “Both teams really want it. Mamer really wants to become champion again. We really want to end the season with a title.”

Also read:

With adrenaline and a strong will to achieve a hat-trick of titles

Despite her many successes, the 28-year-old is as ambitious as ever. “When I start a season, I want to win at least one title. “I won’t settle for anything less,” says Hoffmann. A special characteristic could help the team to be successful again, said Braas: “The fact that we act as a team has always made us strong. Some of us have played together for a long time and know each other well. That’s very important in moments like this.”