Home teams steal the show at MEVZA zonal event in Innsbruck

The first competition day of the Innsbruck BeachEvent which accounts for a stop of the win2day Beach Volleyball Tour PRO 2025 and as a MEVZA zonal event as well delivered exciting matches and strong performances from the national and international teams involved. 

With sunshine and in front of an enthusiastic audience, the athletes showed their skills on Innsbruck’s iconic Market Square. The event in Innsbruck confirms that Beach Volleyball has long been more than just a sport - it is a real crowd puller. After a successful qualification completed on Thursday, the Main Draw started on Friday in ideal weather conditions. The Austrian national teams knew how to impress and thrilled the audience with spectacular rallies and top performances. Lia Berger/Lilli Hohenauer were particularly impressive in the women’s competition with a commanding opening victory against both the Slovakian duo Kristina Harmanova/Lesia Slezakova and the Czech tandem Justyna Frommova/Jaroslava Marcelova. As a result, the young rising stars secured a direct spot in the quarter-finals. Sarah Kastenberger/Michaela Handler-Hollaus and Magdalena Rabitsch/Anja Trailovic also got off to a successful start - the two teams will therefore meet on Saturday in an all-Austrian duel in the Round of 12.

In the men’s division, last year’s silver medal winners Laurenc Grössig/Maximilian Trummer impressed and left their mark in Pool B, as Felix Friedl/Florian Schnetzer did in Pool C. Both duos won their group thereby securing their place in the quarter-finals. 

Away from the courts, a colourful supporting programme, food trucks, cool drinks, and DJ sounds ensured a great atmosphere for young and old. The Innsbruck BeachEvent once again turned the Market Square into a meeting point for sports enthusiasts, families, and party people alike. The sundowner party in the evening was the perfect end to an all-round successful opening day. The weekend promises more highlights! 

For further information, visit https://www.innsbruckbeachevent.com 

Pictures courtesy of Lukas Anzinger