Ramstein's Isabella Johnson goes up for a block against Lakenheath's Kylie Griffin during the first day of a DODEA European qualifying volleyball tournament on Oct. 31,2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – The three-time defending champion Wiesbaden volleyball team has tended to start matches slow this campaign.

The Warriors couldn’t afford that Friday with the start of the 2025 DODEA European qualifying tournament. When they stepped onto the court against SHAPE at Ramstein High School, they had to hit the ground running.

Wiesbaden took take of business, beating the Spartans 25-16, 25-18, 15-18.

“We’ve always had that three-sets-out-of-five thing, where it’s, ‘OK, we’ve got three more sets,’” Wiesbaden coach Malia Taiafi-Husseini said. “It was do or die (Friday). We had to get those three sets.”

Focusing on set wins instead of match wins stems from the new setup to the European volleyball postseason.

DODEA-Europe added qualifying tournaments ahead of the European championships. Two teams from each site will advance, and the number of set wins decides which teams advance.

So, the three sets Wiesbaden took over SHAPE put the Warriors in the driver’s seat at the Division I Ramstein tournament.

Wiesbaden's Ava Brickley hits the ball at the net as SHAPE's Kira Muehlmann defends during the first day of a DODEA European qualifying volleyball tournament on Oct. 31,2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden's Saniyh Housey tries to block an attack from SHAPE's Kira Muehlmann during the first day of a DODEA European qualifying volleyball tournament on Oct. 31,2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

SHAPE's Emma Richards watches the ball after she spiked it against Wiesbaden on the first day of a DODEA European qualifying volleyball tournament on Oct. 31,2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

SHAPE's Doga Mert sets for teammate Wiktoria Rybka, foreground right, in a match against Wiesbaden on the first day of a DODEA European qualifying volleyball tournament on Oct. 31,2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Lakenheath's Giorden Francisco jumps up to spike the ball during a match agaisnt Ramstein on the first day of a DODEA European qualifying volleyball tournament on Oct. 31,2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein libero Noelle Murphy bumps the ball during a match aganst Lakenheath on the first day of a DODEA European qualifying volleyball tournament on Oct. 31,2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Lakenheath libero Natalie Cook receives a serve while teammate Emily Wall watches during a match against Ramstein on the first day of a DODEA European qualifying volleyball tournament on Oct. 31,2025, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

The home team also put itself in a good position. The Royals defeated Lakenheath 25-16, 25-14, 25-10. Ramstein trailed only four times in the match – all in the opening few points of each set.

Ramstein’s Ella Yost said the team didn’t know what to expect heading into Friday, but the Royals accomplished their main goals.

“We approached today like a learning lesson,” Yost said. “We wanted to go out there, see what this atmosphere is feeling like. Now that we know, we can come out (Saturday) hot and stronger.”

While the Warriors managed to get the job done, the Spartans gave them fits in all three sets.

SHAPE led 15-13 in the first set thanks to a 6-0 run before Wiesbaden rattled off 12 of the final 13 points, including the last 10 points.

The Spartans tied the second set at 11 before the Warriors went on an 11-2 run to pull away. And in the third set, five consecutive points saw Wiesbaden’s 16-14 advantage grow to seven points.

The key for those spurts was team camaraderie, Wiesbaden’s Lillie Redeen said.

“It was definitely about motivating each other and just cheering,” the junior setter said. “Honestly, cheering brings up the spirit a lot, and it helps motivate you to do it for your team.”

All four teams have two more matches Saturday to decide which teams qualify for Euros. No team was eliminated.

Ramstein coach Kandel Baxter said Saturday’s objectives are simple:

“We need to beat SHAPE really soundly, and we know we can beat Wiesbaden,” Baxter said. “We just have to take it one set at a time.”