Bundesliga Volleyball: Thüringer Encountering Unusual Obstacles
The Volleyball Bundesliga (VBL) is gearing up for an exciting 2025/26 season, marking a record number of 15 teams participating, the highest ever in the league's history. The official schedule has been released, and it promises a series of thrilling highlights, including several enthralling Thuringian Derbies.
**Key Upcoming Matches and Highlights of the 2025/26 Season:**
The season will kick off for the men on October 21st, 2025, with a home game for the Berlin Recycling Volleys against VfB Friedrichshafen in the Max-Schmeling-Halle. This opening match is set to be a classic, as it brings together the playoff finalists from the current season early on [1].
On November 12th, 2025, the Berlin Recycling Volleys will host SVG Lüneburg, the new top team and runner-up. This match promises to deliver another sporting highlight [1].
For the women, the season begins on October 10th, 2025, with a home game for the Dresdner SC against SC Potsdam, a significant derby in the region [2].
As early as October 4th, 2025, the WT Energiesysteme Supercup will take place, featuring the Dresdner SC, the Pokal winners, hosting German champions SSC Palmberg Schwerin. This match promises to be a top-tier event with a significant international flair in the Margon Arena [2].
**New Teams, Arrivals, and Notable Aspects of the Season:**
Three new teams have joined the Women's Bundesliga, promising emotional home games with an international flavour [2].
The participation of VfB Suhl LOTTO Thüringen (Women) in European competitions, having qualified as Playoff-Halbfinalists, makes Thuringian Derbies particularly interesting [3].
Prominent teams in the Men's division include triple winners Berlin Recycling Volleys, runners-up SVG Lüneburg, and newcomers and participants in European competitions like VfB Friedrichshafen and Helios GRIZZLYS Giesen [3].
**Additional Important Information:**
German teams will once again participate in numerous European competitions, including the CEV Champions League, the Volleyball Cup, and the Challenge Cup [3].
The 2025/26 season promises to be an exciting and diverse one, with a high number of teams and matches, as well as strong performances in international competitions [3].
Highlights of the upcoming season include:
- Season opener for Men: October 21st, 2025, Berlin Recycling Volleys vs. VfB Friedrichshafen - Season opener for Women: October 10th, 2025, Dresdner SC vs. SC Potsdam - WT Energiesysteme Supercup Women: October 4th, 2025, Dresdner SC vs. SSC Palmberg Schwerin - Key Men's Match: November 12th, 2025, Berlin Recycling Volleys vs. SVG Lüneburg
These dates also mark exciting Thuringian Derbies and challenges for the newcomers, who will enrich the league [1][2][3].
Other than VFB Suhl and Schwarz-Weiß Erfurt, the opening game of the season for most teams will be played by Dresden and Potsdam on October 10th. Gotha's second league men will play their first game of the season against Leipzig on September 13th, following their decision to refuse promotion.
The number of teams in the 2025/26 Bundesliga has increased to twelve, with Schwarz-Weiß Erfurt remaining in the league due to its expansion. The ambitious team from Baden-Württemberg finished the last season in sixth place in the Pro second league. The first Thuringian derby of the 2025/26 season will take place on October 25th in Erfurt.
The opening game for teams other than VFB Suhl and Schwarz-Weiß Erfurt will be played by Dresden and Potsdam on October 10th. The first eight teams at the end of the main round will participate in play-offs for the German championship. ETV Hamburg is one of the teams promoted to the Bundesliga for the 2025/26 season under economically eased conditions. There will be no sporting relegation in the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. Borken is one of the three promoted teams to the Bundesliga for the 2025/26 season. No new information about Kinga Szucs or Schwarz-Weiß Erfurt was provided in the current paragraph.
- The upcoming season of sports, specifically the 2025/26 Volleyball Bundesliga, will host several enthralling matches, such as the season opener for the men's division between Berlin Recycling Volleys and VfB Friedrichshafen on October 21st.
- Furthermore, the women's division promises a significant derby with an international flavor on October 10th, as Dresdner SC faces SC Potsdam to start the season.
