MEVZA League opener: Waldviertel edge Graz in tie-breaker

On Thursday evening, Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL needed 124 minutes to edge UVC Holding Graz in the opener of the men’s MEVZA League 2021-2022. Austria’s national champions suffered a disappointing home defeat (23-25, 18-25, 25-23, 25-20, 10-15) at the hands of last season’s Final Four hosts.

URW coach Zdenek Smejkal was satisfied with the performance of his squad: “Congratulations to my team. Both sides have shown what they are made of.”

Graz manager Frederick Laure: “We saw another thriller between these two teams. We certainly have not reached our full potential yet, but it was a good step in that direction. Now it is time to rest and focus on the Champions League match next Wednesday in Slovakia against Rieker UJS Komarno.”

Two more national derbies are due to follow on Friday and Saturday. The Slovakian side TJ Spartak MYJAVA will be hosting compatriots VKP BRATISLAVA and OK Calcit KAMNIK from Slovenia will be facing last season’s runners-up OK Merkur MARIBOR. VKP will participate in the MEVZA League for the first time since 2008. “We are very pleased to compete with such strong teams from MEVZA countries. We think we are an enrichment to the MEVZA League,” VKP BRATISLAVA manager Tomáš Jen?a is looking forward to Friday’s match at national rivals TJ Spartak MYJAVA. BRASTISLAVA’s head coach added: “They will certainly challenge us a lot, but we are playing to record our first win this season!”

The Women’s season opener between VB NÖ Sokol/Post and Vasas Óbuda BUDAPEST is due to follow in Vienna on October 6. The kick-off should actually have taken place earlier this month, but a COVID-19 outbreak resulted in the postponement of four matches.

Live streaming of all matches is available for fans to follow the competition as closely as possible.

MEVZA League Men: UVC Holding GRAZ (AUT), SK Zadruga AICH/DOB (AUT), Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT), HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO), OK Merkur MARIBOR (SLO), Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO), OK ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO), TJ Spartak MYJAVA (SVK), VKP BRATISLAVA (SVK)

MEVZA League Women: VB NIEDERÖSTERREICH Sokol/Post (AUT), HAOK Mladost ZAGREB (CRO), OK Marina KAŠTELA (CRO), Vasas Óbuda BUDAPEST (HUN), Calcit Volley KAMNIK (SLO), Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO)

The women’s and men’s sides initially compete in a double round robin format. After the completion of main rounds, the MEVZA League will be reaching its climax with the Final Four tournaments (hosts will be announced later this year).

Men’s MEVZA League

30.09.: UVC Holding GRAZ (AUT) vs. Union Raiffeisen WALDVIERTEL (AUT) 2-3 (23-25, 18-25, 25-23, 25-20, 10-15)
01.10., 18:00: TJ Spartak MYJAVA (SVK) vs. VKP BRATISLAVA (SVK)
02.10., 20:00: OK Calcit KAMNIK (SLO) vs. OK MERKUR MARIBOR (SLO)

Match schedule 2021/2022 MEVZA League Men

Match schedule 2021/2022 MEVZA League Women

MEVZA League winners since 2011

Women
2011: VK Prost?jov (CZE)
2012: Nova KBM Branik Maribor (SLO)
2013: Nova KBM Branik Maribor (SLO)
2014: Calcit Volley Kamnik (SLO)
2015: Nova KBM Branik Maribor (SLO)
2016: Calcit Kamnik (SLO)
2017: Békéscsabai RSE (HUN)
2018: Békéscsabai RSE (HUN)
2019: VK UP Olomouc (CZE)
2020: Calcit Volley Kamnik (SLO)

Men
2011:ACH Volley Bled (SLO)
2012: Hypo Tirol Innsbruck (AUT)
2013: ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO)
2014: ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO)
2015: Hypo Tirol Innsbruck (AUT)
2016: ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO)
2017: ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO)
2018: SK Posojilnica Aich/Dob (AUT)
2019: ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO)
2020: ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO)
2021: ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO)