Kronthaler before the final

“If acceptance holds, we are unstoppable”

In the final series, the Hypo volleyball team will rely on the power of star attacker Luan Weber.(Bild: GEPA pictures/Wolfgang Grebien)

Final, final! The Hypo volleyball team will battle for their 12th championship title in the best-of-7 series against Hartberg on Wednesday evening (20:20, USI-Halle).

The Tyrolean giants have perhaps never been in such a big favorite role. The Hotvolleys and Aich/Dob have always been feared as arch-rivals, and Hartberg chairman Manfried Schuller sees his team as outsiders in the final premiere: "We are the absolute underdogs, but we can live with that. The professional team from Tirol has to win, we can."

We won the basic round, now of course we want to win the title.

Hypo-Tirol-Kapitän Niklas Kronthaler

Hypo captain Niklas Kronthaler accepts the role of favorite: "We won the basic round, now of course we want to win the title."

"We're just looking from game to game"
However, the former team player warns against prematurely planning a championship celebration: "We're just looking from game to game. The important thing now is to start the series with a home win."

Tyrolean championship title

• Final 2023: Hypo Tirol - Aich/Dob 4:1
• 2017 final: Hypo Tirol - Aich/Dob 4:1
• 2016 final: Hypo Tirol - Aich/Dob 4:2
• Final 2015: Hypo Tirol - Aich/Dob 4:0
• Final 2014: Hypo Tirol - Aich/Dob 4:2
• Final 2012: Hypo Tirol - Aich/Dob 4:1
• Final 2011: Hypo Tirol - Aich/Dob 4:0
• Final 2010: Hypo Tirol - Hotvolleys 4:3
• Final 2009: Hypo Tirol - Hotvolleys 4:0
• Final 2006: Hypo Tirol - Hotvolleys 4:2
• Final 2005: Hypo Tirol - Hotvolleys 4:0

The 1:3 defeat in the Cup semi-final should not be a mental stumbling block. "We know why we lost in Hartberg at that time. That's no longer hanging in our heads," promised the winger.

Manager Hannes Kronthaler sees his squad at an advantage thanks to the power of Brazil star Weber: "If our reception holds up, we can't be stopped in attack."

Hartberg are doing a good job. But they haven't won anything yet, they still have to prove it.

Hypo-Tirol-Manager Hannes Kronthaler

For the Tyrolean volleyball maestro, experience also plays a decisive role in a final series: "Hartberg are doing a good job. But they haven't won anything yet, they still have to prove it."

Player talks only after the final series
For the Hypo-Riesen, it's not about the title bonus, manager Kronthaler only wants to sit down with the players after the final series: "First we win the title, then we talk about the future."

One thing is certain: Austria's volleyball champions can look forward to home games in the reformed Champions League.