ACH Volley climbs to the top

Last week only two games of the 16th round were scheduled in Men's MEL. Hypo Tirol stayed unbeaten against Austrian rivals this year, beating the hotVolleys by 3:0 on Friday. ACH Volley (SLO) is on top of the standings after winning at SK Posojilnica Aich/Dob on Saturday.

Hypo Tirol celebrated a 3:0 (25, 22, 23)-win against the hotVolleys in theier 16th round game on Friday. The Tyroleans have won all the MEL-meetings with Austrian rivals this season, that also count for the seeding for the Austrian playoffs. The hotVolleys are seeded third now behind Aich/Dob, who now hold home court advantage for the Austrian Semi finals.

The hotVolleys fought hard for long stretches in all sets, and couldn't convert a setball in the first. At the close moments of the game the confidence of the Tyroleans, who made it to the Top 12 for the first time this season, prevailed.

The third set was especially close. The home team held a four point advantage, but the hotVolleys came back to a one point deficit. As in the other sets before the defending champion had all the right answers again and finally swept their Archrivals.

'It wasn't the best duel there ever was between those two teams. At the end of the sets we always had the momentum on our side. The first one was really close, and we had to defend one setpoint. I think that was the turning point', said Hypo Tirols assistant coach Gernot Hupfauf.

ACH Volley climbs to the top
SK Posojilnica Aich/Dob (AUT) suffered a 1:3 (25:27, 27:25, 17:25, 21:25)-loss against ACH Volley (SLO) on Saturday. Even the record breaking crowd of 1000 spectators in Prevalje could not help the home team.

Aich/Dob held it's own in the first two sets, but after Bled won the second set it took the game over. The Slovenians took advantage on the offensive mishaps of the home team and got a deserved win in the end. The Slovenians climbed to the top with the 3:1-win, but are only one point ahead of Hypo Tirol, that has played one game less.

Aich/Dob-manager Martin Micheu saw improvements, but wasn't content at all: "We played better than recently, but our attack was really bad. 37 percent completion just isn't enough. Our attackers lacked confidence. We have to change that until Thursday, when we meet Asse-Lennik in the European Cup again., but especially for the Austrian playoffs.

MEL, Men, results:
16th round:
Friday:
Hypo Tirol Volleyballteam (AUT) - hotVolleys (AUT) 3:0 (27:25, 25:22, 25:23)
Topscorer Hypo Tirol: Chocholak 12, Dos Santos 11, Chrtiansky 10
Topscorer hotVolleys: Nagy 15, Nemec 11, Stojkovic 8

Saturday:
SK Posojilnica AICH/DOB (AUT) - ACH Volley (SLO) 1:3 (25:27, 27:25, 17:25, 21:25)
Topscorer Aich/Dob: Bencz 13, Van Lankveldt 13, Kenderov 11
Topscorer ACH Volley: Jakopin 15, Šket 12, Kamnik 11

Upcoming games:
8th round, Friday:
19:00 Hypo Tirol Volleyballteam (AUT) - MOK ZAGREB (CRO) Uni-Sportinstitut {INNSBRUCK}

17th round:
Saturday:
17:00 MOK ZAGREB (CRO) - Hypo Tirol Volleyballteam (AUT) Uni-Sportinstitut {INNSBRUCK}
19:00 VK Chemes HUMENNE (SVK) - DIAMANT KAPOSVAR (HUN) Mestska sportova hala {HUMENNE}

Sunday:
18:00 ACH Volley (SLO) - hotVolleys (AUT) Sport hall SGŠ {RADOVLJICA} - ANS/RED/MEVZA