Volleyball final series

Not much to gain at the betting office with Hypo-Riesen

Hypo Tirol attacker Arthur Nath and Co. want to secure the title in the fourth final game.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Three games, three wins! The Hypo volleyballers have the first match point for their twelfth championship title in Hartberg on Saturday. Only a volleyball miracle will help Hartberg. Never before has a team in Austria come back from 3-0 down in a best-of-7 series.

After securing a 3:1 home win on Wednesday to take a 3:0 lead in the best-of-7 series, there's not much more to be gained from the Hypo volleyball team at the betting office. There are now only odds of 1.47 on a Tyrolean victory in Hartberg on Saturday.

Manager Hannes Kronthaler is also convinced that his team will convert the first match point for the twelfth title in the club's history. The 58-year-old Bau-Löwe is attending an away match for the first time this season: "It's not about the medal for me. I want to show my respect for Hartberg by being there."

If we win, I'll go for a beer with the lads. The championship cigar will be served at a barbecue back home.

Hypo-Tirol-Manager Hannes Kronthaler

Tirol's volleyball zampano hasn't prepared a championship celebration either: "If we win, I'll go for a beer with the boys. The championship cigar will be served at a barbecue back home."

After a good final training session in Innsbruck, Hypo head coach Stefan Chrtiansky wants to close the bag in Hartberg. The mastermind is instilling two things in his stars: "We have to adjust to a short service and we have to be more consistent in the block."

Hartberg hopes for a miracle
Hartberg want to win a final match for the first time in front of a fanatical home crowd. Setter Max Thaller is even hoping for a volleyball miracle: "It's about time that a 0:3 in a series is turned around."

The national player also believes he knows how to break down the champions: "When they get into their game, it looks as if they are superior. But if we can put them under pressure, they get nervous."