21/06/2017 14:21
Baden Masters – Austrian teams look forward to exciting tournament on home sand
2017 CEV Beach Volleyball European Championship - Baden Masters
Baden, Austria, June 21, 2017. After playing host to a highly successful 2017 edition of the U22 European Championship, the Austrian city of Baden will be in the spotlight again, with the Baden Masters presented by SPORT.LAND.NÖ taking place at the Strandbad from Wednesday to Sunday. The women’s medal matches will take place on Saturday afternoon whereas the men’s tournament will reach its climax on Sunday. The competition starts on Wednesday afternoon with the country quota matches, with Austrian and German teams vying for a spot in the men’s and women’s qualification round, respectively.
Home stars Clemens Doppler and Alexander Horst were able to feel the ambiance they will enjoy in Baden last week already – when they cheered on Pristauz (pictured) and Paul Buchegger as the young Austrians won bronze at the #EuroBeachVolleyU22. “I am especially looking forward to playing on home sand and performing before the Baden crowd,” Horst said addressing the media on Wednesday. “The field has never been as strong as this year here in Baden and this is an excellent way to prepare for the World Championship taking place in Vienna in late July,” he and partner Doppler agreed.
Home favourites Stefanie Schwaiger and Katharina Schützenhöfer, Austria’s no. 1 team in the women’s tournament, share the same opinion. “I am happy to be able to compete here and knowing how competitive this tournament is going to be, I am especially looking forward to taking to the sand,” Schwaiger said. “I am fit again and I have taken a number of friends and family members to Baden to cheer us on.”
Thomas Kunert and Christoph Dressler compose Austria’s no. 2 team in the men’s tournament. “This tournament is an extremely important one since the top teams in Europe will be fighting for the medals,” Kunert said. “Baden is one of my favourite tournaments. My family and friends will be here to cheer me on; the venue is great and the weather has been amazing so far.” His partner Dressler deserved warm words to the local organisers and promoter Vision05 for the great work they do with this tournament.
Robin Seidl and Tobias Winter also look forward to playing in Baden and they are confident they can achieve good results on home sand. As for Pristauz, the bronze medallist from the U22 European Championship sounds confident as well: “I want to carry the positive vibes from last week to the Baden Masters and if we make it through the country quota, I think anything can happen,” he said. Another home star, Alexander ‘Xandi’ Huber feels a special connection with the tournament. “I have played many times here and it feels like coming home,” he said. “I have made many friends here in Baden, including the people working for Vision05. It is like a big family, which welcomes me back year after year. The competition is tough and we start from the country quota but I hope that together with Julian [Hörl], we can do something good here.”
More Austrian teams feature in the women’s tournament as well. Lena Plesiutschnig and Cornelia Rimser are the second best Austrian tandem at the Baden Masters. “We want to give 100% in every match and will enjoy playing on centre court. It is a good thing for Beach Volleyball in Austria that this tournament is taking place once more here at Baden,” Rimser said. “Apart from the World Championship in Vienna, this is the highlight of our 2017 season.”
Finally, rising star Teresa Strauss made her thoughts clear as well. “We want to have fun,” she said referring to herself and partner Bianca Zass, who stepped in for her injured twin sister Nadine. “The crowd will be an extra motivational factor.”
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