INNSBRUCK – The alpine city showed once again that it is a hotspot for MEVZA beach volleyball action and sporting enthusiasm despite unpredictable weather conditions. The sun held back, but the athletes shone with their skills and determination to make the most of the tournament. Regardless of the weather conditions, the team spirit and passion for the sport continued unabated, promising an exciting conclusion to the tournament. Fortunately, from the afternoon on, the rain also stopped, the main grandstand filled up and there was a good atmosphere.
The first quarterfinal highlight from Austria’s point of view was the duel of the defending champions Magdalena Rabitsch/Anja Trailovic with Tereza Novotna/Anna Pavelkova (CZE). The young Carinthians didn’t leave anything to chance, prevailed 21:14, 21:15. In the semi-finals Rabitsch/Trailovic will meet Stefania Kun/Kinga Windisch (HUN). Ziva Javornik/Maja Marolt (SLO) and Barbora Tokosova/Silvia Poszmikova (SVK) will fight for the second ticket to the final.
Magdalena Rabitsch was happy to reach the semifinals again:
“Innsbruck is a cool event, of course we like to remember last year. We are happy to be in our last tournament together for a longer time on the final day.”
In the men’s singles, six local duos made it to the quarterfinals. Timo Hammarberg/Tim Berger defeated veteran Xandi Huber and Laurenc Grössig 21:11, 18:21, 15:11 in the first ÖVV duel of the day. The U20 European runners-up will challenge the top seeded pair Martin Ermacora/Philipp Waller on Sunday afternoon. The winners of the World Pro Tour Future Baden beat their Austria team-mates Paul Pascariuc and Laurenz Leitner 21:19, 21:15. 29-year-old Ermacora, a native of Innsbruck, is a true local hero. Accordingly, the atmosphere in the – despite the modest weather – well-filled main grandstand was also good at the last match of the day. This also pleased the players:
“It’s really fun to play on this Centre Court,” said Phillip Waller. “Paul and Laurenz didn’t make it easy for us, but Martin had a really good nose on the block. Tomorrow we have two more matches, which I’m really looking forward to.”
Florian Schnetzer/Lorenz Petutschnig were able to fend off a set point against Tadeas Tezzele/Matyas Dzavoronok (CZE), but finally kept the upper hand with 22:20, 21:15. Robin Seidl and Moritz Pristauz are waiting in the semifinals. The newly crowned national champions had little trouble with the qualifiers Jan Bercik/Jindrich Zavadil (CZE) – 21:13, 21:16. Seidl/Pristauz are also using the Innsbruck BeachEvent as preparation for the World Championships in Mexico (October 6-15).
