Defending champion Tyrol landed perhaps the decisive away win in the “best of seven” final series of the men’s Austrian Volley League (AVL) on Sunday. Four days after the difficult 3-2 home win against TSV Hartberg, the Styrians had to admit defeat 0-3 at home. With a renewed home advantage, the Innsbruck team can secure their first match point on Wednesday (8:20 p.m., live ORF Sport +) in their pursuit of their twelfth championship title.
The first round continued the close first encounter; the newcomer to the final from Eastern Styria definitely had a chance of taking the lead 1-0. But then things happened quickly, after 1:15 hours the guests ended the game with an ace. “We played it home with calm and experience. But the next game will also start from scratch,” warned Tyrol coach Stefan Chrtiansky in an ORF interview. His captain Niklas Kronthaler spoke of a “concentrated performance. We came here with good morale. You can never let up against Hartberg.”
Hartberg coach Markus Hirczy knew the reason for the defeat: “We were actually in the game, but then we had a problem converting our chances. Then it’s difficult against Tyrol, it was a tactically disciplined masterpiece on their part.” But he trusts his team to learn quickly and fight back. “I am confident that we can manage a win (in the series, note).” Setter Maximilian Thaller revealed something similar: “The series is still long. They shouldn’t feel safe. Keep calm and go full throttle.”
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