Association has its say

Weizer volleyball players fight back against relegation

In sporting terms, it was a season to forget for VBC Weiz - but do they really have to go down?

(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Hartberg's volleyball players are currently trying their luck in the final series of the AVL against favorites Hypo Tirol (score: 0:2). This does not leave association president Uwe Stark cold either. Another club from Eastern Styria, AVL bottom team VBC Weiz, is currently causing headaches for the Austrian association.

"Hartberg has shown top performances so far. But now it's going to be difficult," says Uwe Stark after the 0:3 against champions Tirol and the 0:2 deficit in the best-of-7 final series. "Tirol's hardened professional squad is good for a surprise in every game and can make tactical changes in every game. But maybe TSV coach Markus Hirczy will come up with something"

The Styrian volleyball president is teary-eyed about Weiz's situation. The team from Eastern Styria will have to drop into the second division. "The hall problem that has persisted for more than ten years is certainly a factor," says Stark. Due to the lack of infrastructure, the East Styrians have to move to Graz. A new one has only been discussed for years."

"Suddenly revoked"
However, the move to league two is not yet a done deal! "There was a binding survey by the association, where only Weiz and Klagenfurt expressed their willingness to join the Bundesliga," explains chairman Gernot Schoberer. "The competition was launched and the survey was suddenly revoked." And St. Pölten suddenly wanted to move up after all. "Now we want a clear statement from the association." The association's legal department is already looking into the matter.