Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL celebrated a 3-1 (20-25, 27-25, 25-16, 25-18) home win in the MEVZA League clash with their national rivals SK Zadruga AICH/DOB on Friday night.
As a result, the “Nordmänner” moved up to fifth place in the current standing with a 4-4 win-loss record. Therefore, URW are back in the race for a Final Four spot. AICH/DOB, on the other hand, are still sitting in third place, the former competition champions have won five matches from the nine games they have contested so far. Top scorers at Zwettl: Daan Streutker (18) and Audrius Knasas for the home side (16); Noel Krassnig (15) and Konrad Formela (12) for the away team.
Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL coach Zdenek Smejkal: “It was a very disciplined, good performance from my players after a difficult first set. We are looking forward to the next matches.”
SK Zadruga AICH/DOB sport director Martin Micheu: “We started the match well, unfortunately we lost the second set due to our own fault. We then couldn’t get back into the match. Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL deserved to win today.”
The MEVZA League is going to continue on Saturday with the highly anticipated Slovenian derby between the still unbeaten table leaders ACH Volley LJUBLJANA and their closest rivals OK Merkur MARIBOR, while UVC Holding GRAZ will be hosting HAOK Mladost ZAGREB. In the women’s competition bottom of the table OK Marina KASTELA will be facing fourth-placed HAOK Mladost ZAGREB in a Croatian derby.
Final Four tournament hosts announced
SK Zadruga AICH/DOB and VB NÖ SOKOL/POST were announced as Final Four tournament hosts. The men’s competition will most likely reach its climax on February 19 and 20, while the women’ competition will probably come to an end on February 23 and 24. “I am very happy that both Final Four tournaments will take place in Austria for the first time,” MEVZA president Karl Hanzl said.
Men’s MEVZA League
17.12.: Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) vs. SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT) 3-1 (20-25, 27-25, 25-16, 25-18)
18.12., 20:00: UVC Holding GRAZ (AUT) vs. HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)
18.12., 20:30: ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) vs. OK MERKUR MARIBOR (SLO)
22.12., 17:00: HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) vs. Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT)
29.12., 18:00: TJ Spartak MYJAVA (SVK) vs. Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT)
30.12., 18:00: VKP BRATISLAVA (SVK) vs. Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT)
Women’s MEVZA League
18.12., 17:00: OK Marina KASTELA (CRO) vs. HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)
22.12., 19:30: HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) vs. Vasas Óbuda BUDAPEST (HUN)
SPORTLIVE
