Austria: What a match for Graz! Aich/Dob defeated 2-3 in Final Game 1

UVC Holding Graz surprisingly won the Game 1 of DenizBank AG VL final serie against title super favorite SK Zadruga Aich/Dob. The final debutant had a two-set lead in the JUFA-Arena Bleiburg, suffered a comeback but eventually prevailed at tie break. Partially it was 31:33, 23:25, 25:20, 25:15, 11:15.

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The first set was very balanced, but on 21-23 the guests made three points in a row and manage to take the lead. Aich/Dob started well in second set, but made too many errors, and the rivals take also this partial.
Third set went in one direction from the start. Graz equalized the score only on 1-1, and then Aich/Dob fly away, allowed Graz to come close to one point again (14-13), but finally closed easily the partial 25-20. The hosts played more concentrated, while the rivals could not quite maintain their level as the first two sets. And 2-2 was the result, after a clear four set ended 25-15 in favor of Aich/Dob.
However, Graz made a miracle, moved away to 4-9 and, after 126 minutes of play, they closed the decisive set at first match point: 11-15!
Top scorers of the match were Victor Alcantara (21), Arvydas Miseikis (20), Konrad Formela (19) and Tiago Pereira (18) for the hosts, while Johannes Kratz (17) and Lorenz Koraimann (16) for the winners. Aich/Dob was better in blocking (12 vs. 7) and in attack (49% vs. 45%), Graz was scored one more ace (8 vs. 9) and both teams made 31 errors.

Game two of the best-of-7 series will take place next Saturday in Raiffeisen Sportpark Graz at 8.15 p.m.!

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| DenizBank AG VL – Finalserie (best-of-7)

| GAME 1 – April 7, 2021
• SK Zadruga Aich/Dob – UVC Holding Graz 2:3 (31:33, 23:25, 25:20, 25:15, 11:15)

| GAME 2 – April 10
• UVC Holding Graz – SK Zadruga Aich/Dob 3:1 (25:22, 25:15, 22:25, 26:24)
| GAME 3 – April 18
• SK Zadruga Aich/Dob – UVC Holding Graz 1-3 (22:25, 24:26, 25:21, 22:25)
| GAME 4 – April 21
• UVC Holding Graz – SK Zadruga Aich/Dob 3:1 (20:25, 25:21, 25:22, 25:18)
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| Serie for 3rd Place (best-of-3)

| GAME 1 – April 14, 2021
• Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel – VCA Amstetten NÖ 3:0 (25:20, 25:21, 25:21)
| GAME 2 – April 17
• VCA Amstetten NÖ – Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel

(( GAME 3 – April 18 ))
• Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel – VCA Amstetten NÖ
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