The Alterna Stade Poitevin gives an appointment in the North in Tourcoing

Alterna stadium Poitevin – Tourcoing: 3-1

Time may pass and do its work, this place may no longer seem completely suitable for sport and high-level spectacle without it seems to move communities, the Lawson-Body room always has something special. Magic. Because if not how to explain that 2.044 spectators rushed to it on a Monday evening, when school holidays will not start until Friday? How to describe with words this crazy atmosphere in the irrespirable money-time of the fourth set before Pablo Kukartsev cracks on the seventh Poitevine match ball (31-29)? “The public was incredible and he played his role”noted, happy, Thibaut Thoral. “We had no choice but to give ourselves with the supporters who pushed us and that gave us a surplus of energy. »» Also of love.

Poitevins like this speaker and their volleyball team. Everyone was able to take the measure of this passion, this Saturday like this Monday. And even if it is aging, the “temple of volleyball” is still standing after having vibrated as it had not done for many years, during these two duels against Tourcoing. And he could very well ignite again on May 2 during the return match of the semi-final. “When we play in such an atmosphere, we really want to come back”continued the receptionist-attacker.

“We found the character of a team”

Because if the Alterna SPVB has not yet won against the Tourquennois, it has not yet lost. And it is already a small feat in itself after having bowed during the first two games at the Roubaix Velodrome (1-3, 1-3) the previous week. Dan Lewis and his protégés have given themselves the chance to return to the North. Hoping to avoid hell and tu paradise there. They can believe it with their new guardian angel: Nik Mujanovic.

As on Saturday, the young pointed Slovenian hurt Simon Roehrig and his partners very much to finish the meeting with 30 points (28 attacks at 65 % efficiency, 1 ACE, 1 against winner), whose ninth offered the first round to his team (25-22). And as Saturday, his teammates also got in tune, despite a little more waste (29 errors). “The whole collective has made a very good match”appreciated Thibaut Thoral. This allowed them to reverse a delicate situation in the second set (12-16 then 16-17, 21-20 and 25-23), then to bounce back into the fourth while the Tourquennois woke up in the previous one (20-25).

Since the start of this quarter -final, the two teams have been going for blow. But if they cracked in the North, the Poitevins, at home, managed to keep their calm in the warm moments and the heart well hung despite those who capsized in the stands during this unbearable finale. “We talked with the guys this week, we found the character of a team, an atmosphere together on the fielddescribed Dan Lewis. It was stronger every time. There have been a lot of difficult times this (Monday) Evening but the players kept their heads cold and well played in the important moments. Everyone plays well, I’m very happy for the group. It was not easy this year, a lot happened. But faced with adversity, they found solutions. »» To give an appointment in the North Friday at the TLM …