The Netzhoppers Königs Wusterhausen see themselves as well prepared for the new season in the volleyball Bundesliga. “We certainly won’t be tearing up trees right away, but we’re already committed to moving towards the play-offs,” says managing director Dirk Westphal. The team will play its first Bundesliga game on September 28th against FT 1844 Freiburg.
The conditions have improved significantly compared to last season. The club already received a certain level of basic security at the beginning of July: the contract with the main sponsor, a company in the field of renewable energies, was extended for three years. The year before, the Netzhoppers had to file for bankruptcy. They were penalized with point deductions and, with a very young team, came last in the Bundesliga main round.
Timmerman returns
The team was now able to strengthen certain areas. The most important personnel change: Theo Timmermann, a homegrown player who is a key figure, returned to KW after just one year with the Volleys Herrsching. “Bringing him back was our top priority,” said Westphal. With Hannes Gerken as the passer and Yann Böhme as the main attacker, central positions were filled with two experienced players from Bundesliga rivals SVG Lüneburg.
The Australian Liam Sketcher (41) replaced Alejandro Kolevich as coach. Sketcher had already had a taste of Bundesliga football as an assistant coach at VfB Friedrichshafen and UV Frankfurt. Most recently he worked in the Czech Republic. “An absolute expert. We’ve had our eye on him for a long time,” said Westphal.
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