A major setback for the Dresdner SC women’s volleyball team. The six-time German champion will have to do without national team player Patricia Nestler in the coming months, as the club announced ahead of its second Bundesliga match against SSC Palmberg Schwerin. The 25-year-old suffered a serious knee injury in the first set of the season opener against Stuttgart. According to the doctors’ diagnosis, the libero and team captain sustained a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee. As a reception and defense specialist, Nestler is one of the team’s key players. Emilia Schaarschmidt, who was promoted from the club’s youth program just this summer, is currently taking over the libero role. “The loss of our captain and one of the pillars of our team is extremely bitter. Above all, our thoughts are with Patricia, for whom this injury is, of course, also a huge personal disappointment,” explains coach Alexander Waibl. As club officials further report, they plan to assess in the coming days how to respond to this long-term absence. In doing so, the club is also exploring various personnel options on the transfer market. Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reservedDSC is exploring options on the transfer market