5 Reasons Why You (Yes, You) Should Follow Men’s Bundesliga

You know who you are. You’re a huge fan of this game and religiously follow your son’s (or nephew’s or daughter’s teammate’s brother’s) junior club team. You’re even keeping an eye on various schools where he might play someday.

Well, you’re about to hear why maybe, just maybe, it might be worth your while to spend at least part of your volleyball-following brain on men’s Deutsche Volleyball-Bundesliga this season.

Wait, what?

Ich bin serious. By clicking on a few tabs every so often, you can check in on some of the top volleyball in the world. Here’s why you’ll be glad you did:

1. The Basics Are, Well, Basic. The top men’s league includes 11 teams that start competing in mid-October with playoffs at the end of March. Win the playoffs and you’re crowned Bundesliga champs—just like VfB Friedrichshafen was last season.
2. Berlin Recycling Is Easy to Pronounce. If you’re like most, VfB Friedrichshafen doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. But the other perennially top team, Berlin Recycling Volleys, does. Those two Champion’s League teams form the upper echelon, with teams like SWD PowerVolleys Duren and United Volleys Rhein-Main close on their heels.
3. It’s All About the Cup(s). During the season, a separate tournament, the German Cup, features first, second and third league teams—and can draw more than 10,000 fans for its finals. Recently, the Germans also added Super Cup, which is more of a grow-the-game exhibition between the German Cup winner and previous season’s Bundesliga champ (or runner-up if one team won both). This year’s Super Cup will be held on October 8th between VfB Friedrichshafen and Berlin.
4. Your Nephew (or His Archrival) Might Be Playing in Germany Someday. It’s volleyball: You usually need fewer than six degrees of separation to link yourself to someone playing somewhere. Like former UC-Irvine Anteaters, Kyle Russell (Berlin) and Scott Kevorken (VfB Friedrichshafen). Or Princeton alumnus, Cody Kessell (SVG Lueneburg). Or maybe even Canada’s Steven Marshall (Berlin), recently named Best Outside Spiker at the 2017 Jerzy Wagner Invite.
5. It’s a Small World (Wide Web) After All. This one’s something of a shameless plug, but VolleyMob is one of several sites that will be covering Bundesliga so you’re never more than a tab away from knowing Sebastian Schwartz transferred to United Volleys Rhein-Main.

Ready to start following men’s Deutsche Volleyball-Bundesliga? Great. We’ll be profiling teams and players between now and the start of the season. Not sold yet? No worries. Consider clicking over occasionally to see if anything piques your interest. Already a Bundesliga fan? Leave a comment to let us know what gets you most excited about the coming season.