© Sportreport
Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel is Austrian volleyball champion for the first time. The Northmen also won the fourth AVL Men final against SK Zadurga Aich/Dob, won Sunday evening in the JUFA Arena in Bleiburg 3:1 (25:11, 21:25, 25:16, 15:20).
With the hosts, middle blocker Nikolai Grabmüller was out early with an ankle injury, so the first set was a clear affair for URW, which was loudly supported by around 100 fans who had traveled with them. But with their backs to the wall, Aich/Dob reared up and the three-time champion equalized. Despite a strong performance, the Carinthians could not win more than one set. Union Waldviertel scored their first match point after 103 minutes. Winning the championship also means the double for the Northmen, because in February they were crowned Austrian Volley Cup winners for the first time.
Top scorers were Xander Ketrzynski (18), Marino Marelic (10) and Michal Hruska (9) or Daulton Sinoski (22), Marek Sulc (12) and Samuel Taylor-Parks (11). Match stats from the hosts’ perspective: attack points 44 to 47, aces 4 to 6, block points 6 to 5, acceptance 53% to 55% and points from opposing errors 18:38.
URW Liberty Jacob Reiter: “This success is difficult to put into words. We are overjoyed. Aich/Dob played well, had nothing left to lose, but we held out.”
URW Manager Werner Hahn: “In terms of sport, this is one of the most beautiful days of my life. I’m really happy, it’s a historic success. Our fans were a mega support again today. Aich/Dob tried everything again, but we stayed cool.”
Aich/Dob-Libero Manuel Steiner: “Union Waldviertel was very solid again. Despite the absences, we performed better today than in the first three finals. The two teams were evenly matched. If we had presented the whole series like that, there would have been a lot more in there for us.”
AVL Women: VC Tirol wins first game for 3rd place
In the second top game of the evening, VC Tirol came a big step closer to third place in the AVL Women. Innsbruck won the first duel of the “Best-of-3” series against UVC Holding Graz 3:0 (25:19, 25:22, 25:19). The second game will take place next Friday in the Raiffeisen Sportpark.
Austrian Volley League Men, Finalserie (best-of-7)
ORF SPORT+ shows all games LIVE
April 13: Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel vs. SK Zadruga Aich/Dob 3: 1 (30:28, 25:23, 16:25, 25:23)
April 17th: SK Zadruga Aich/Dob vs. Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel 1: 3 (14:25, 19:25, 25:21, 22:25)
April 21: Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel vs. SK Zadruga Aich/Dob 3:0 (25:15, 25:20, 25:18)
April 24: SK Zadruga Aich/Dob vs. Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel 1: 3 (11:25, 25:21, 16:25, 20:25)
Austria Volley League Women-Finalserie (best-of-5)
ORF SPORT+ shows all games LIVE
19.04 .: STEELVOLLEYS Linz-Steg vs. VB NÖ Sokol / Post 3: 0 (25:21, 25:18, 25:22)
23.04 .: VB NÖ Sokol / Post vs. STEELVOLLEYS Linz-Steg 0: 3 (16:25, 21:25, 9:25)
25.04., 20:15: STEELVOLLEYS Linz-Steg vs. VB NÖ Sokol / Post
if required
27.04., 20: 15: VB NÖ Sokol / Post vs. STEELVOLLEYS Linz-Steg
30.04., 20:15: STEELVOLLEYS Linz-Steg vs. VB NÖ Sokol / Post
Series for 3rd place (best-of-3)
24.04., 18:00: VC Tirol vs. UVC Holding Graz
29.04., 19:00: UVC Holding Graz vs. VC Tirol
if required
01.05., 13:00: VC Tirol vs. UVC Holding Graz
Presseinfo
Austrian Volley League Men
ÖVV
24.04.2022