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No wonder! Tirol crowned volleyball champions

Hypo Tirol are AVL champions!(Bild: GEPA pictures)

With a 3:0 demonstration of power in Hartberg, Hypo Tirol were crowned Austrian volleyball champions for the twelfth time in total. The AVL final series thus went clearly 4:0 to the favorites, who only stumbled briefly in the first duel (2:3). Significantly, the Styrians were unable to win a single set in Hartberg.

The crowd in Hartberg was right - the fans wanted to see a sensation in the form of a TSV victory. However, they did not count on the host, in the form of Hypo Tirol. The favorites, who had to withdraw Nicolai Grabmüller early in the game due to injury, were once again ice-cold in the decisive rallies. "That's their class, we did a great job of catching up, were able to take the lead at 20:20, but then failed to score simple points. They then pull away and take the set with individual class," admitted Hartberg manager Markus Gaugl after the 21:25 win.

The first step on the way to the twelfth Tyrolean championship, which coach Stefan Chrtiansky's legionnaire-laden squad then went on to achieve with aplomb: 25:19, 25:19 - at 22:03, the championship was wrapped up.

No way through for Hartberg's Hensel and Co. against Tirol.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Nevertheless, Hartberg's Max Steinböck summed it up positively. "We are runners-up and also won silver in the Cup." The Styrian had a challenge ready. "I've been watching these series since I was a kid - and that certainly wasn't my last! Tirol, we'll see you here again!" 

While Tirol's Niklas Kronthaler celebrated with his colleagues. "We'll start here in the hall, then most of the party will take place on the bus," grinned Kronthaler. "We wanted to get it done here and now - and we did that with ease despite Grabmüller's injury."