Austria`s men`s national volleyball team suffered a 3-1 defeat (22-25, 18-25, 25-20, 23-25) against Sweden on Friday evening in Amstetten. This result significantly impacts Austria`s chances of qualifying for the 2026 CEV Golden League, which now appear slim. Despite mounting a strong challenge in the third set and contesting the fourth set intensely, the undefeated Swedish team ultimately demonstrated superior consistency.
Coach`s Perspective
Austria`s head coach, Radovan Gačič, commented on the match: “We struggled early on, partly because Sweden is a team that makes very few mistakes – that was the case again today. We also didn’t serve well in the first two sets. In the end, small details made the difference, and Sweden was able to win 3-1.” He highlighted that crucial small details determined the outcome.
Match Progression and Key Moments
After dropping the first two sets without much resistance, Austria responded strongly in the third set. They increased their service pressure and improved their block-defence, securing the set 25-20. The fourth set was a close battle, with Austria holding leads at 10:6, 17:15, and 20:19. They even saved one match point at 22:24 before Sweden converted their second opportunity to win the set 25-23, ending the match after 106 minutes.
Austrian outside hitter Lukas Glatz, who scored 13 points, reflected on the game: “Just like the first, the fourth set was really close. We gave everything in the third, but in the end Sweden’s experience showed.”
Top Performers and Sweden`s Reaction
For Austria, Michael Czerwinski was the standout player, leading all scorers with 27 points. Paul Nusterer contributed 11 points. Sweden`s top scorers were Jacob Ekman and Axel Enlund, each with 12 points.
Sweden`s head coach, Gido Vermeulen, while victorious, expressed slight dissatisfaction: “We were aiming for a 3-0 victory. Austria played great in the third set – while we lost our energy a bit. That’s why we brought in two fresh players to help us close out the fourth. Losing that one set hurts, because it complicates our situation in the standings.”
Upcoming Schedule
Austria will have a rest day on Saturday. The Silver League tournament in Amstetten continues with a match between Hungary and Sweden on June 28. Austria will play their final group stage match against Hungary on Sunday, June 29.