BEFORE THE HALF FINALS

Volleyball girls play it safe this time

Player of the match Jasmin Haslinger (on the ball) is fit again.(Bild: Florian Weikert)

Calculated Innsbruck. "Last time we played there, we only arrived at the station 45 minutes before the start of the match due to a train delay. This time we're playing it safe," says club boss Karl Hanzl, explaining why his volleyball players left for Tyrol on Friday. The Viennese women are dangerous underdogs in the league semi-final on Saturday.

The Post girls' duels with TI volley so far this season have all gone to the Tyroleans. "But we have a different face now and finally have the full squad available after a number of injuries," said Hanzl, referring in particular to blocker Anilise Fitzi's torn cruciate ligament and the torn collateral ligament of setter Jasmin Haslinger. Both are fit again. 

Anilise Fitzi is still playing with a support sock, but is fully fit.(Bild: Florian Weikert)

Nevertheless, Hanzl sees the odds "about 2:1 for Innsbruck". After all, the Tyroleans are the reigning Cup and Supercup winners and finished the basic round of the league in first place. The semi-finals of the Austrian Volley League will be decided in a best-of-3 series. "But the league is very evenly matched. I am therefore cautiously optimistic." Also when it comes to arriving at Innsbruck's USI Hall on time. The hotel is less than 200 meters away.