Müller/Tillmann 🇩🇪 vs. Bock/Lippmann 🇩🇪 | Beach Volleyball World Championships 2025 | Pool play

They are playing. Now, I think watching teams play one another from the same country is so enlightening and eye-opening because nobody knows these teams better than themselves. And so you're going to see the best scouting reports from both. And look at Litman-Bach going up and getting over the 6'4 block of Savetti-Bullock. Let's see who Bach goes at. Going at Tillman. Little out of system here for Tillman. And Litman baited that line, took it away, forcing Tillman to go sharp. And she yanked it a little bit wide. Tillman siding out 67% on the year. And in system, 84% of her passing. Big number. Nice short poke there for Tillman. And that's something that you're going to notice a lot about Tillman's game, is that if she runs in front, doesn't get a side out, she'll immediately move the set around. And that's a credit as well to the setting of Muller, that she can run that type of dynamic off it. Chipping around the block of Muller. So two straight first ball side outs for Linda Bach. Litman has one of the most dangerous serves on the Beach Pro Tour. And there it is, right on cue. Louisa Litman firing in today. We saw Sidney Tillman was nominated for server of the year by the player voted Beach Pro Tour player awards a year ago. Shirley is in the running again. Better pass this time for Tillman. And Litman again, lining up neutral or just in the angle. Jumping line, trying to bait Sidney into that line. So she does not take the bait this time. Good lead. Good serve as well from Sidney Tillman. Just a good lead from Bach, following it all the way out. Tillman and Muller, coached by the Kiwi, Kirk Pittman. Meanwhile, Bach and Litman, coached by Gregor Zvizelek. He coached primarily Carla Bordner and Sandra Itlanden throughout their run. Just missed out on the Paris Olympic Games. Good set there from Muller. And there again, Litman, lining up neutral or just at the angle, jumping back into the line. And she gets a block, as Bach and Litman jump out to a four-point lead. Now, they've been excellent so far. They've had two matches, haven't even had so much as a close set, 21-18, 21-13, over Puerto Rico, 21-12, 21-13, over Argentina. Big swing into the angle from Sidney Tillman. And she's fired up. Now, on the other side, Muller and Tillman, they have been good, not great. Yes, they're 2-0, but they were pushed a little bit by Argentina, 21-18 for a second set, 21-11. Now, they went to three yesterday in the wind and rain against Puerto Rico's Alanis Navas and Maria Gonzalez. Ended up winning in three. But they haven't been unquestionably dominant. What a missile from Litman. It's an overpass. Litman now on two. Tillman's there. Tillman, late back set. And what a bummer for Litman. As Bach was on that wristaway read, so was Litman. And Litman's dig was where Bach started. And watch, both of them are on the right play right there. And you see both of them laughing. Sometimes, you can both have too good of a read. Oh, wow, what a chop, what a dig. Litman on two, going right back to Tillman. And again, it's a left-handed scoop dig. Litman's got to go again. And again, it's Tillman. And this time, Tillman puts it away, going with the high deep poke. And so Sidney Tillman racking up the dig stats. That's three and one rally. Just all short court digs there for Sidney Tillman. Lock-in system set is tight. A little bit of trouble. Can Mula get there? She cannot make it playable. Good get out of jail. High deep poke there from Linda Bach. Bach's siding out 62% on the year, passing in system 83% of the time. It was a six rotation outside and indoor, so passing accuracy expected. Nice high deep serve, well-handled from Tillman. And Tillman trying to find the high hand, doesn't find him. She sends that one long and out of bounds. And so Bach and Litman stretch their lead back to four. In the last three years, almost no teams came out and served Tillman. Now that Mula has settled in and become a very elite offensive player, Tillman has become the target for most teams. Just wide. Watched all the way from Tillman. Taking you on our deep serve. Bach, big step, close, big swing from the blonde bombers. You don't see Mula pull too often, especially on a perfect set such as that, especially against such a physical player as Linda Bach. Bach wants this one at Tillman. Again, it is that little dive line from Litman. This time Tillman calibrates that line perfectly. Now it might be time to try one at Melissa Litman. They're going to stay on Bach. And this time Mula stays up. This time she gets a block on Bach. Now Bach saying, that's my bad. I think that set drifted just a little bit far off the net. And she got under it a little bit. Couldn't quite get the height on it that she wanted. Trouble in the pass here for Bach. And the lefty from Bach goes for the kill. And that's beach volleyball right there, ladies and gentlemen. You've got to be able to use both. You have to just make athletic coordinated plays when all is broken. And that's exactly what we see here for Bach. She uses that lefty to swipe it off the block. Mula's first action in server seat. Just a lovely little line dropper from the 24-year-old. It is crazy to think that Mula is only 24 years old. And she has many, many years ahead of her at her peak. Nasty serve from Mula. It goes just a little bit long. And so we are going to go into the technical timeout. Linda Bach and Louisa Littman in firm control of 12-9. Out of the technical timeout, it'll be Louisa Littman at the line, one of the most dangerous servers in the world. Anytime a German gets at the service line, it's going to be a dangerous serving. Coming in right on cue yet again. Making a second ace for Louisa Littman. A wicked line-to-line. Too fast for Tillman to handle. Another BB from Littman. Big back set. In front goes Tillman. And Bach keeps it alive. Mula has had little action. Look at Linda Bach again. And the jumbo! Gets Bach in the air. Gritty defense from Linda Bach. And just a perfect shot. Watch this. There's nothing more satisfying as an offensive player. Oh, it's too much. I love that reaction from Bach as well. Just laughing in midair when she knew it was just no good. What a pass from Linda Bach. Tillman, perfect read. Line is open. Goes angle. And that time, she gets a kill. Tillman and Mula just picking away, picking away, picking away at the lead. Set is a little bit tight. And there is Bach bringing some heat into the sharp angle. And that's where I think the set is tight enough that Mula can just forget the call, line up neutral, and take anything low. Anything low angle, anything low line. As I think she could have gotten a block on that one. That said, they're one of the best block D teams in the world because she's such a good funneler. She takes her space and let Tillman operate behind her. Again, dive angle block from Littman. And Tillman, she's seen that a couple too many times now. But I think it's time for Bach and Littman to switch up their defensive strategy on Tillman. They've run that play half a dozen times already. Beautiful. Beautiful high line from Linda Bach. Littman thriving on line to lines. Again, line to line. Tillman's there. Oh, wow. What a reach and swat from Louisa Littman. Whenever Germany has needed a point, Littman has come up big, either with one of her two aces or here. Look at that timing and reach with the right on the block. Clutch move at the net. And now it is going to be a timeout for Tillman and Mulla down 16-12. I need some points. Let's get this session. Let's get up on our feet and dance. DJ Max with Jennifer Trout. Free throw for our team. Off the third. Come on. Get some shots. Two, three, six. Three, six. Yes. I want this group here. I think we're going to win this. Out of the timeout is the upstart, Bach and Littman, taking a four-point lead over Tillman and Mulla late in this first set. First option we've seen from Mulla is dug. Option number two from Mulla, handled again. And Louisa Littman, that might be her first attack opportunity of this entire match. And she puts it away down the line. It has been virtually Tillman versus Bach exclusively. And Littman stayed ready. Another ace for Louisa Littman. It has just been a line-to-line clinic for the German blocker. Three aces, all line-to-line missiles. And you just see how fast that's catching Tillman. Another option for Mulla. And Bach was there, just couldn't corral it. And a credit to Bach and Littman. That's what they're forcing Mulla to do. They're forcing her to go on to relieve some of this pressure we're seeing on Tillman. And there is an ace serve, the first ace for Sidney Tillman. The question, of course, is it too little, too late? In this first set, anyway. But you always want to get a little bit of good energy, good momentum going into the second set. And it'll be back-to-back aces for Sidney Tillman. So it's been Louisa Littman who has been responsible for most of the service pressure. But here's Tillman again with that high, deep float. And again, getting an ace. And now it's going to be Bach and Littman taking a timeout. The art of knowing when to say nothing in a timeout. On full display there by Coach Fijolek, who opted to say nothing. And the women also opted to say nothing. Nothing to say, it's just let's remember how to pass. We knew that service pressure was coming from Sidney Tillman. That's no surprise. Nice cover. Littman on two, puts that one away. Littman, two attacks, two kills. Bach's fired up. Just a high reach from Louisa Littman. Big back set, back in front goes Tillman. And she gets the kill and one with a net violation on Louisa Littman. And one, of course, not a thing in beach volleyball. Although I've always posited that maybe it could be. We have Savendy Mola back to serve. Big swing, just in front of Sidney Tillman. So the net giveth sometimes, and sometimes the net takes it away. That time it giveth for Linda Bach. As her and Littman go up 20-16. They have just been in control of this entire map. Wow, what a serve from Louisa Littman. Goes just long. But that serve is just a menace. Set point number two for Bach and Littman. This is the first time Littman has received a serve. And Tillman's there. Wow, what a dig and put away from Sidney Tillman. Outstretched left hand to a filthy crossback. Look at this, outstretched lefty. That's her opposite hand, and then watch this. Face and angle, cross body to the line. And that is why she's one of the best defenders on the planet. And this time it's Mola. And there's the cover from Bach. And Bach with the clutch cover and put away to seal up the first set win for the on paper underdogs. And I say on paper only because the way that Bach and Littman have been playing this week, to those paying attention, this was much more of a coin flip than the seedings would suggest. Bach and Littman have two medals this year, one silver, one gold, both in challenge events. But I'm not surprised at all by that 21-18 result. The only somewhat surprising thing about it was how in control they were the entire set. Now, Tillman and Mola pushed back a little bit at the end. But you look at that, and it is just winning every category by just a little bit. And I think it's telling that they can control that whole first set on just four errors from Tillman and Mola. It's not as if Tillman and Mola just gave it away. Bach and Littman went out and grabbed it. Away we go then for set number two. Now, we saw Tillman and Mola switch tack going at Littman at the end. We'll see if that stands. Now, I'd imagine that the pressure will stay all on Tillman here until she starts to get a little bit more consistent. Again, it's that same line blocking. And that worked well. That helped stake them to that 9-5 lead in the first set. But it just hasn't been effective, really, since the technical timeout. And so Tillman's going to force them to change their strategy at some point. And so, indeed, they will stay on Littman. And the jump back set is going to be called for a lift or a double. And Bach apologizing to Littman. And she taps herself on the head saying, what am I doing? Now, to her credit, she got Mola to jump. It just wasn't super accurate with it. Now, if I'm a 1X betting man, if you will, I'd imagine we're going to be going to three sets. I just think that's the way this match is going. Big step close for Littman. Bach, my goodness. That is a rip into the sharp angle. And I love this partnership. The vibes, the energy, the closeness of Bach and Littman. They're just such a team. Tremendous energy. A bit of trouble here for Tillman. And that is an excellent cross-body swing for Sydney Tillman. And credit must be given to Mola. That was a perfect roll-up back set over the shoulder. And Littman just going straight OT over Mola. It is not easy to go over the top of a 6 foot 4 block. And yet, you got 6 foot 3 Louisa Littman, who also can jump quite a bit. And she finds a way to go OT. And now they test Mola first time. And Mola has just been perfect. She's only had three or four chances on offense. And she's just been so steady. Now, for the longest time, it was Mola's passing that gave her some trouble. This year, she's passing 78% in system. That is a big number when you're 6 foot 4 and one of the best side-out players in the world. And the fast line from Bach pulls just wide. Set was where she needed it. The decision was right. Set a little bit outside. And Bach, she knows what to do with it. She's a longtime indoor player. And so set's a little bit outside, just finding high hands and using them. Wow, what a serve. Tillman doing her best just to keep it in play. Oh, wow, what a chase down. But Littman can't quite get there. That's a tremendous play from Senya Tillman. Doesn't try to do too much of that out of system. Set just chops a nice, fast one down the line to see what she can get. Gets a kill out of it. First jump serve we've seen from Senya Tillman. And Bach gets under that set. Missed contact and into the net. As the errors are starting to pile up for Bach and Littman, it is going to be a timeout called by Gregor Spigelet as his team is down 8-4. I'm here courtside with one of the biggest fans I've ever seen courtside. He's here every single day. He's here with Germany. These guys are all going something. We don't understand it. What's your name, sir? My name is Oleg. Oleg? Sir, that's one of your chants as well. I've heard the one, two, three. Thank you. Can you explain the other chants that you are saying? Let's go Germany, let's go! So Bach and Littman are averaging 9.7 errors per match as a team. And in this second set, the errors are starting to add up quite a bit, down four, mostly due to those errors. Now, I love what Senya Tillman's doing. As she switched to the jump serve, twice she's earned points with it, that one being an ace. 9-4 lead now for Germany's top pair. This was my match of the day on the women's side. Proving to be an excellent one already. And Louisa Littman, high and off the hands of Muller. But now the job for Littman and Bach is to find a way to earn points. They did so in bunches at the beginning of the first set. However, those bunches were getting smaller and smaller and smaller. And now they're getting tougher to come by. However, you have one of the best servers in the world at the line. This is where the majority of their points have come from, with Littman and this missile from the end line. Wow, what a cross body out of trouble swing from Senya Tillman. That's twice now we've seen her run that back set out of system. And twice now she's gone cross body, flowing with the direction of the set. It's a tremendous swing. And there's a block from Savinia Muller. Dragging that left hand into the angle of Linda Bach. Now watch this move from Muller. She's jumping into the line, but watch her left hand. Just dragging it into the angle, sealing off. Big move from Muller. Puts her and Tillman up a cozy 11-5. And that tags the line. That is an unbelievable high line from Linda Bach. Testing Muller now out of system. What a set there from Tillman. Cover onto again. Senya Tillman's cross body finds the sand. Muller again making her presence felt. What a set. And again, cross body for Tillman. Again, finding the sand. Tillman's cross body swings have been lethal. But what control on the soft block. Look at that set from Muller. Fading away, finding the ball, and putting up perfectly where Tillman needed it. Littman now onto right into the lap of Tillman. And Tillman fade away. Jumbo goes just wide. But she's limiting the first ball side outs for Bach and Littman. That was something that came relatively easy for Bach and Littman in that first set. It was first ball side out, first ball side out. Tillman doing what great defenders do, making the adjustments. Good move from Littman. Bach trying to send her deep. What a pass. Good ball control there. And then a perfect high line from Savany-Muller puts Tillman and Muller up 14-7 at the technical time out. Out of the time out. They're going at Bach. Nice read from Tillman. Was making a move there off the soft block. And Muller can't find the sand with that. But again, they're limiting first ball side outs. And when you can do that, it's just, it wears on you as an offensive team. When a blocker's get to touch, a defender's get to touch, it's just so difficult to side out. And that pressure is starting to add up. We're going to have a challenge here from both Bach and Littman after that miss serve. I have it as just long. And you get two challenges per set. And so, they haven't used one in this. So, it's a use it or lose it scenario. So, you might as well use it when it's close. Wow, that is close. But I have that as just long. A worthy challenge to be sure. Good call by our up breath. And a good job done by our challenge crew. Oh, wow. Well out of system here is Bach. And the pump almost goes for a kill. And so, the trains have fallen off the tracks here for Bach and Littman. So, a third set seems to be just about inevitable. Tillman ripping away with the jumpy. That's been effective in this second set. Missile down the seam for Littman. And we'll send you Tillman at the net. She almost gets the crowd pleaser defender block. No block to be had, however. You can just never rest easy when Louisa Littman is at the service line. Right on cue, sends a bullet down the line. It'll be a transition opportunity for Bach. It's a little bit out of control. And she does not find the hands of Svendibula. And so, a good opportunity for Bach and Littman is thrown away. And you can see the frustration here on the body language of Littman as she's had a couple sets just get a little bit out of control. Excellent serve for Svendibula. The dropper catches Littman in the right bicep. Watch this just drop so quickly. A serve there for Muller. Almost gets another one. It's well handled from Littman. But guess who's there? Sydney Tillman on the left. She's loved that cross body. And cross body, she goes again. The defense from Muller and Tillman has reared its head here in this second set. They're holding teams to 59% side out on the year. Tremendous, tremendous defensive team. Oh, wow, what a stab dig there from Bach. And the pass goes over the net from Tillman, giving Littman an easy opportunity for the kill. Credit to Linda Bach for keeping that play alive. As far as volume of digs per match, the few get as many as Linda Bach. That's why teams are siding out just 57% against them. And Bach sends that one. I have that in just long. Uprep has this one as in. I think that Tillman and Muller are going to win this challenge. That said, I was wrong before on the challenge today. I think that what our uprep saw was the ball hitting the rope that connects the line to the anchor. Either way, a ridiculous serve from Linda Bach. I love that we have these challenge systems, especially in an event as important as a world championship, where anything close, we're going to get it right. And we need that. And the challenge system, I've seen calls decided by a millimeter gotten right. And that, gosh, and it is, gosh, that is so close. It is just, just out. It doesn't get any closer than that. Tillman, nice timing on that move. Good play set up. And the cross body is stuffed right back into the head. Taking the Red Bull visor with her. Big move from Lippman. Lippman averaging four and a half blocks per match. And on the first set point, second set point, it is no good as Lippman gets another ace. That, I mean, that ball didn't rotate an inch. Wicked float. Open net for Cindy Tillman. Good reaction from Lippman. Not good enough as Savenia Mulla and Cindy Tillman will take a 21-14 second set win to push the match of the day on the women's side to the full three sets. And again, the out-of-system setting from Savenia Mulla must be acknowledged as she is just rolling up. Perfect out-of-system set at a perfect out-of-system set for Tillman to put away. 21-18, 21-14 are your scores of the first two sets. As I said at the beginning of that second, if I was one expectant man, I'd say we're going three. Indeed, we are. Is Mulla Tillman more efficient in every aspect of the game? Ten attacks to six, two blocks, however, for Lippman and one for Mulla. Eight errors is the number that I would circle. For Bach and Lippman, they took care of the ball so well in that first set. And just let it get a little bit away in the second. Now, both teams who started fast in the first and second set stayed that way. First five to 10 points of this third set will be a critical tone-setting period. Tillman's gonna keep with that jump serve that has been very effective and remains so. Nice pickup. It looked buzzed over on one, so Tillman will have an opportunity well off the net. Bach in system, chops it high and over the block of Mulla. It took a lot of work to get there, but that is a side out. Serve well picked up. Lippman's there for the dunk, and she is in the net. Big opportunity for Bach and Lippman. Unfortunately, the net is there. Nice pickup from Tillman on the cutty. And Bach has seen the cross body, and there's the over on one. That one goes for the kill. Love that reaction from Lippman. Tried to translate that body language. It's, yes, partner. Smart play from Bach. And she has seen that cross body high line from Tillman one too many times now. Nice move from Lippman. And double up into the line. Tillman sees it, goes high angle. And over set is not fully over. And so Mulla is called over. That's a huge break for Bach and Lippman, as it's an unchallengeable offense as well. That's what Tillman's saying. Can I challenge that? The ball is on the plane. What a break for Bach and Lippman, as that was virtually a free point for Mulla and Tillman. So we'll see if they accept the gift. Rare serve sent the way of Mulla. She's just been so smart, and now she's fired up. She thinks she's been slighted with that call, but she's fired up about it. And there's an ace serve for Savenia Mulla. She's starting to rack up the aces. First it was Lippman who piled them up, and now it is Savenia Mulla. That is her third ace in the last handful of points. Nice move from Tillman. Good timing down the line. Bach is there again. This is a big swing and transition. And Tillman's there! Tillman's there again! It'll be another opportunity for Bach. Mulla struggling to get back up to the net. And the pressure that Savenia Tillman has put on Bach and Lippman on offense, that is one of the reasons that they are starting to pile up the errors, because where isn't Savenia Tillman? She's everywhere. That forces you to go sharper, to go faster, and that's gonna cause you to hit a handful of errors. Savenia Tillman, one of the best defensive players in the world. Let that play be your example of why. Savenia Mulla, high deep six she goes. FBSOs, that's the first ball side out. And this is one of those tough combinations where first ball side outs start to come easier for Tillman and Mulla. Meanwhile, they are coming at a premium for Bach and Lippman. Let's see if they can get one here. Yes, they can, as Louisa Lippman makes a fast snap to the high deep six. What a read there from Lippman, one of her first full digs of the match, and she stays high and deep, and she's got it. Tie ball game in this third set. Mulla goes high and long, and judging from the reaction from Lippman, I think there was a touch here, and she calls her own. She says, no need for the challenge. Referees, I'll call it on my own. Credit to Lippman for not wasting everyone's time. So excellent high option there from Savenia Mulla. Good step in on the pass there from Tillman, chasing the set outside, makes it fast if she had to, because Tillman would have been there if they were any slower. Watch Tillman just wheeling around in the backcourt. Nice fast shot there from Lippman. Line to line has been her most dangerous serve. Line to line she goes. Nice timing from Bok to take the lead. Sets tight, that's no problem. Bok wipes it off the block of Savenia Mulla. And now Bok and Lippman, after going down 6-4, take a 4-1 switch to take the lead at 8-7. Another missile, and it's going to be an ace for Louisa Lippman. One of the best servers in the world, if not the single best server in the world. Look at the elevation on that float serve. Coming in at ridiculous speeds. And now it is going to be Tillman and Mulla. Their two-point lead has flipped into a two-point deficit, taking a timeout down 7-9. Out of the timeout. We'll see if it does anything to freeze up Louisa Lippman, who has been a menace from the line, at her best from this back left corner. And double up into the angle, Tillman still goes angle. And Bok swinging through the fences, by the hands of Mulla. What a rip from Linda Bok, and what a dig. So Lippman pulls angle, and guess who's there right behind her in the angle? Linda Bok. Geez, what a serve. Another pull there from Lippman, and Tillman finds her hand. Tillman, just the right amount of power. Nice little wrist away there from Tillman. Lippman was in that, is it in, is it out, indecision of whether to play it or not. Smooth pass there from Bok, and nice high swing. What a play from Tillman. Visor's off. And Linda Bok with the baby line. Perfect touch. Gritty, gritty offense from Lippman and Bok. On two for Mulla, replaced into the high angle, as it'll be nine serving 11 at the switch. Nice cover there from Lippman. No, it's not a nice cover. Bok can't get there. Good, steady, disciplined block from Savendi Mulla. Now Mulla has been serving Lippman very effectively. Has had trouble staying in system on Mulla's floats. And that's an easy way to stay in system, no need for the pass. Now this could decide the match. You have the best server, one of the best servers in the world at the line, up 12-10. You can get one if you can get two. And that is a gift for Tillman and Mulla. Tillman's jump serve has been effective. Into the jump she goes. And it's another block for Mulla, but this one's covered. And it is called a lift on the cover. And so just like that, the two point lead is gone as Mulla. Again, it's just another perfectly disciplined block. Ties it up at 12s. And now it's gonna be Coach Vizsalek taking a timeout at 12 apiece. These are the fun matches to be a part of. World Championship, country versus country. 12-12 in the third set. The winner takes the top spot in the pool. And the timeout, well worth it. Get the miss serve right out of it. And it will take the 13-12 edge as we switch into the business end of this third set and the match. Back to back miss serves. Make it back to back to back. Angle block will be called on Lippin. It'll be a line on Bach. Bach ripping. Fearless swing from the rookie. And that is gonna bring a match point for Bach and Lippin. Excellent clutch high line from Senya Tillman. Just a cool, calm customer is Senya Tillman. She's been in pressure situations before and she is thriving. Double angle block to the call. Tillman, however, has green light to roam. It'll be a free ball coming in. Not a free ball. It's gonna be a way off the net kill for Louisa Lippin. I'd say that's a good break, but that's not even in the frame. That's virtually hitting a jump serve and she gets a kill out of it. And so it'll be a second match point for Bach and Lippin. And Tillman sends it just long. Now this is as tight as it gets. I have this is just wide and out of bounds, but this mark is close. I have it as out. Kyle Friend's mouth is agape. It doesn't get any closer. Tillman was enthusiastic about this one. It is just out. And the upset is gonna be complete. The Blonde Bombers, Louisa Lippin and Linda Bach finish it off. And so they are 1-0 in their only meeting against Germany's top team, Sidney Tillman and Svenja Bullock.