Linz, Austria. The top two women’s teams in Austria will be locking horns again on Wednesday with a ticket at stake to make it to the 8th Finals of the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup 2021. About two weeks ago, ASKÖ Steelvolleys LINZ-STEG celebrated a hard-fought 3-2 victory at UVC Holding GRAZ – before this past Saturday LINZ-STEG triumphed again over the very same opponent in the latest round of the Austrian national league.
“My team played extremely well, we put a lot of pressure and executed our game plan very well. If it all fits together so perfectly, it will certainly not be easy against us. UC Holding GRAZ did not have a good day either, and the European Cup match is a new game with completely different omens,” explains LINZ-STEG head coach Roland Schwab looking back at what his team accomplished only a few days ago. “Since we claimed both matches we have played against each other this season so far, UVC Holding GRAZ will be playing the hunter’s role, so to speak, and traditionally they like that very much. I am expecting a very aggressive opponent,” he continues.
The Graz players had to analyse and process their setback from Saturday’s game. “We must not hang our heads. It was not a good match for us, while LINZ, on the other hand, played sensationally. We can do a lot more and we will also prove it on Wednesday,” says UVC captain Eva Dumphart.
Even a 3-2 victory will be enough for LINZ-STEG to progress to the next round. If the visitors from Graz claim a 3-2 win, a golden set will determine the eventual winners of this double header. If the Graz women win 3-0 or 3-1, they will be the ones continuing their journey in the competition.
With Kairos PONTA DELGADA from Portugal, the next opponent is already certain. The game will be taking place in Istanbul in mid-December, where the quarterfinal fixture will follow the next day. In the fight for a semi-final ticket, the Austrians or PONTA DELGADA would face either TK KAUNAS VDU (LTU) or Sistem9 Yesilyurt ISTANBUL (TUR).
CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup – Women
23/11/2020 18:00 VK Pirane BRUSNO (SVK) – Sanaya Libby`s LA LAGUNA (ESP)
24/11/2020 18:00 Sanaya Libby`s LA LAGUNA (ESP) – VK Pirane BRUSNO (SVK)
25/11/2020 19:00 RIGAS Volejbola Skola (LAT) – TJ OSTRAVA (CZE)
26/11/2020 19:00 TJ OSTRAVA (CZE) – RIGAS Volejbola Skola (LAT)
25/11/2020 19:00 ASKÖ Steelvolleys LINZ-STEG (AUT) – UVC Holding GRAZ (AUT)
UVC Holding GRAZ (AUT) – ASKÖ Steelvolleys LINZ-STEG (AUT) 2-3 (25-21, 22-25, 17-25, 25-21, 12-15)
News:
CEV – European Volleyball
ÖVV – Volleyball Austria
ASKÖ Steelvolleys LINZ-STEG
UVC Holding Graz
