Lausanne, Switzerland, April 12, 2017 – Alexander Huber of Austria is starting a new journey with 24-year-old Lorenz Petutschnig, after a seven-year partnership with Robin Seidl that concluded with a ninth place finish at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“I like the attitude of Lorenz,” Huber told the
Swatch Beach Volleyball Major Series website. “He is extremely ambitious, a fighter, and willing to put everything behind for beach volleyball.” Huber sees a big potential in the European U20 champion, who also reached fourth place at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Moscow Grand Slam in 2013 with Alexander Horst.
“He (Petutschnig) is already doing things right - all these little things in beach volleyball that are difficult to learn. So the rest will come easily.”
The new partnership encountered a bit of a delay as Petutschnig had a shoulder injury. The duo only started their first training session in March.
“I played with pain and did not practice much last season,” said Petutschnig, who decided to undergo surgery before Huber’s invitation came.
“I felt really honoured that he asked me and kept his faith in me in times of uncertainty related to my physical condition. That was the motivation I needed to work really hard in rehabilitation.”
Huber/Petutschnig’s coaching staff are working extra hard to get the two in shape for the upcoming FIVB events.
“At the moment we are on the right track to be in good shape for the Xiamen 3-Star and the Rio 4-Star,” assistant coach and brother Hansi Huber said.
Lorenz Petutschnig in action at the A1 Major Klagenfurt in 2016
One of this season’s highlights is the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Vienna, but Huber is aware that there are five tournaments required for qualification. He remains positive and has set goals for the next two years.
“We want to play with the top teams there but we have to qualify against the other Austrian teams,” Huber said. “At the end of this season, we want to be team number two in Austria. For next year, our goals will be even more ambitious.”
Huber counts on trusted associate, coach Helmut Voggenberger, and the support of his family – brother Hansi and cousin Simon Fruhbauer – in preparing him and Petutschnig to achieve their goals.
“It’s great to have half of the family here,” Huber said. “Hansi and Simon have always been the two most important companions in my career. Without them, I would never have made it to the Olympics.”
Huber and Petutschnig had a 10-day training camp at the Limassol beach in Cyprus, where the young Petutschnig won over Huber in tune-up matches.
“A bitter defeat for me,” Huber said. “That’s exactly the reason why I picked him as my partner. He is so strong. I would rather play with him
than play against him.”
Read more on the Swatch Beach Volleyball Major Series website.