After the Hypo Tirol victory

“Emotions will be decisive in the series”

Niklas Kronthaler (mi.)(Bild: GEPA pictures)

The 1:1 draw against arch-rivals Aich/Dob in the semi-final series puts the Hypo Volleyball Giants back in pole position. "Now we have a week to prepare ourselves properly," said head coach Stefan Chrtiansky, breathing a sigh of relief. The weekend without a match is only a small advantage.

"There hasn't been a red-white-red Bundesliga semi-final of this high quality for a long time!" Niklas Kronthaler, captain and leading figure of Hypo Tirol, is therefore preparing for more tough duels with Aich/Dob. Like on Wednesday, when Innsbruck won 3:1 in the USI-Halle.

We have to keep this attitude, this mentality.

Niklas Kronthaler

"You don't need a fifth set"
"This time we had the better end for us", the attacker breathed a sigh of relief. "You don't need a fifth set." Like last week in Carinthia, where things went wrong in the end despite leading 8:5: Aich/Dob fought hard to fend off the chance to make it 2:2 (one set point) and bag a 3:1 victory. "We have to keep up this attitude, this mentality. I'm convinced that the top series will also be decided by emotions."

The fact that their opponents have the MEVZA Final Four on their schedule until next Wednesday, which will put them at a disadvantage in terms of strength and mentality for the third game (best-of-five) - for Kronthaler, this is at most a small factor that could work in the Tyroleans' favour. "As soon as you stand on the pitch and the first ball is played, the adrenaline kicks in anyway."