The final series (best of 7) of the Bundesliga got off to a very exciting start. Outsider Hartberg forced the Tyrolean volleyball players into the deciding set. There the champions had the better end at 3:2. It continues on Sunday in Eastern Styria.
“It was already clear in the basic round that these two teams could make it to the final. “The anticipation is now huge, of course, we’re going to start playing with confidence,” said Hartberg coach Markus Hirczy, whose club is competing in the final series (best of 7) of the Bundesliga for the first time. The Tyroleans, on the other hand, started the race as defending champions and have already won the championship crown eleven times. The role of favorites was therefore clearly assigned in Tyrol even before the first service. The Tyroleans quickly lived up to this role. Thanks to a strong block and tough attacks, the first set quickly went to the home team with a score of 25:18. Manager Hannes Kronthaler applauded: “I have little to complain about, we were in the lead right from the start. So far we are superior, I am very satisfied.” And he was allowed to be that afterwards. Because Hartberg seemed almost out of character at times and had a lot of trouble, which is why things went quickly in the second set. The champion marched ahead, the Styrian underdog couldn’t keep up. It was only towards the end that TSV was able to reduce the deficit to two points. Nevertheless, in the end the scoreboard read 25:20. “It took us a set and a half to get into the game. We played below our expectations. The players have overcome their nervousness. I believe that we can now take the third set,” hoped Hartberg manager Markus Gaugl. And really, the Styrians suddenly seemed like a replacement! They were quickly ahead 10:4. We then had nine set balls. The third was then used to make it 25:17. The guests around Max Thaller continued cheerfully and quickly led again with 5:1. Hartberg didn’t let the lead be taken away from him, but even extended it to 20:14. They actually managed to equalize the set at 25:19. Quick preliminary decision In the decisive fifth set, the Tyroleans found their way back into the game and moved away to 7:3. A small preliminary decision. The outsider was no longer able to make up for this deficit. With 15:7, the champions secured their 3:2 opening win. “It hurts. But it made me want more,” sighed TSV captain Maximilian Steinböck. Despite the victory, his counterpart Niklas Kronthaler warned his colleagues: “We have to play our game from start to finish. This shouldn’t happen to us in Hartberg with their audience behind us. But we’re looking forward to the scenery.”
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