HARTBERG fight hard but Fino KAPOSVAR progress to #CLVolleyM Round 3
News
On Tuesday, TSV Raiffeisen HARTBERG suffered a 0-3 home loss at the hands of Hungary’s national champions Fino KAPOSVAR in the second qualifying round of the CEV XTB Champions League Volley 2027 Men. In front of 1,183 spectators at the Stadtwerke-Hartberg-Halle, the Austrian champions showed their quality, especially in a close second set. However, KAPOSVAR played more consistently and secured the victory with set scores of 25-17, 28-26 and 25-18 to advance to Round 3.
After losing the first match in Hungary 0-3, TSV Raiffeisen needed a strong performance at home to keep their Champions League hopes alive. The Austrian side entered the match with determination, but Fino quickly showed why they had won the first game. The visiting team put the home side under pressure with powerful serves and effective attacking. KAPOSVAR controlled important parts of the opening set and made fewer mistakes in key situations. HARTBERG, on the other hand, had some good moments but struggled to maintain the same level throughout the set.
The second set was the most competitive part of the match. The home favourites improved their performance, played with more confidence and challenged the Hungarian champions. Both teams fought for every point, and the Austrian side had a real opportunity to level the match at 1-1. However, KAPOSVAR remained calm in the decisive moments and ultimately took the set 28-26. This was a major moment in the match. HARTBERG had shown that it could compete with a strong European opponent, but KAPOSVAR was better at using its chances when it mattered the most.
In the third set, the Hungarian team continued to put pressure on the hosts with strong serving and consistent attacking. The home side tried to respond but could not turn the match around. Fino KAPOSVAR stayed focused and completed the straight-set victory.
Jacob Steele led the visitors with 17 points, while Gábor Bögöly added 11 points and made an important contribution with five aces. Daniel Ratz-Michal was the home side’s leading scorer with nine points. For TSV Raiffeisen, the match showed both the team’s potential and the importance of consistency at the highest European level. The Austrian champions will now continue their European journey in the CEV Cup, where they will face Portuguese club Sport LISBOA e Benfica.
Markus Gaugl“We showed at times that we can compete at the highest European level. What we were missing was consistency throughout the match. On a perfect day, we have the quality to beat a team like Fino, but unfortunately, it was not enough this time. A big thank you goes to the 1,183 spectators who supported our team and created a great atmosphere. Our focus now moves to the CEV Cup, where we will face the top Portuguese club Benfica. We will give everything again and fight for a strong result.”
Managing Director of TSV Raiffeisen HARTBERG