23/07/2015 15:31
Austrian mentor hopes his guys can end Estonia’s winning run
2015 CEV Volleyball European League - Men
Vienna/Tulln, Austria, July 23, 2015. This coming weekend the Austrian men’s Volleyball national team are back in action for the fourth leg of the 2015 CEV Volleyball European League and will be playing their second home round in the competition. The players mentored by Michael Warm will be hosting this coming Saturday and Sunday the national team of Estonia which later this year is set to participate in the Final Round of the 2015 CEV Volleyball European Championship – Men. Estonia have dropped only two sets in the four matches they have contested so far in the European League but the games coming up in Tulln will be their first ones away from home after two consecutive home rounds in Pärnu.
Austria have eight points from four matches so far and sit in third place in Pool A whose charts are currently topped by Estonia followed by Poland. However, with at least three points from the matches coming up in Tulln, Austria would move up to second place in the group. Knowing this, Michael Warm and his team have been working very hard at the Landessportzentrum VIVA in Steinbrunn in order to prepare in the best way for the matchups with Estonia. The focus was evidently placed on the upcoming opponent, as their game was thoroughly analysed and a game plan was then developed accordingly.
“These matches with Estonia are a big challenge for us. Up to now they have shown great performances, at least they have even controlled and beaten Poland twice. But we used the time without any matches in the best way and we have prepared very intensely. As for the players who will be part of the 12-men group for the coming weekend, these will be decided by the coaching staff only after the last practice on Friday. Since Thomas Zass and Anton Menner came back after recovering from injuries, we are spoiled and have much to choose from,” Michael Warm says.
The Estonians, coached by the former mentor of the hotVolleys VIENNA Gheorghe Cretu, are particularly strong at blocking and serving. “I would single out their star middle blocker Ardo Kreek and also Oliver Venno as well as Martti Juhkami who have been playing for Hypo Tirol INNSBRUCK last year,” adds Michael Warm hoping for the support of a large audience in Tulln: “As we beat Israel twice in the opening round in Enns the ambiance was great and that definitely spurred us. Of course, we hope that the crowd in Tulln will be supporting us in the same way. This may actually make the difference in our favour!”
On Saturday the first match will start at 20:25 and will be broadcast live on ORF Sport+ live from 20:15. On Sunday the re-match between these teams is scheduled for 17:00.
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