21/01/2015 20:52
Jihostroj celebrate first victory of their European season with classy home performance
2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Men
Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, January 21, 2015. It was finally time to celebrate also for Jihostroj CESKE BUDEJOVICE who on Wednesday claimed their first victory in Pool F of the 2015 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Men with a 3:1 home win over Austria’s champions Hypo Tirol INNSBRUCK (25-22, 25-23, 21-25, 25-23). This way the Czechs claimed their first points since the beginning of the season while Hypo Tirol got to see their chances to continue their European journey compromised.
Since they were still chasing their first points this season the hosts started out a little nervous but they eventually won a close first set by 25-22. “I do appreciate the fact that we brought it home there especially as we initially trailed 2:7,” says Czech mentor Jan Svoboda. The hall was packed for the last home match of this European adventure with 1,439 fans in attendance. The Czechs got to feel the support of their friends more and more and they paid them back with a 16:9 lead in the second set. Hypo Tirol looked surprised by the performance of the home heroes and their coach decided to change setter and this way could keep the score tighter. However, after another nail-biting final rush, Jihostroj sealed their 2:0 lead at 25-23. “We really wanted to get our revenge for the match we had lost in Austria,” commented Czech team captain Filip Habr (pictured) in the end. “Since that day we have definitely improved our performance as all the players who were injured are finally back in the team.”
Hypo Tirol stepped up their efforts in the third set and they eventually won it by 25-21. “This match was much different from the one we had played in November,” said their coach Stefan Chrtiansky. “They have improved a lot in every aspect of the game whilst this was not our best day.” Jihostroj indeed regrouped in the fourth set and once again powered by their fans the Czechs played with quality and consistency to eventually seal their first victory of the season after a battle that lasted for 112 minutes.
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