Chaumont VB 52 Haute-Marne continued its good series, Saturday January 25, near Saint-Nazaire, by winning in three sets with authority. A new demonstration of his dazzling current form: important four days before the Champions League.
While the Chaumont VB 52 Haute-Marne arrived in Loire-Atlantique, Saturday January 25, without its central German, Lukas Maase (pain under the shoulder), preserved, on the Saint-Nazaire side, it is a strongly modified face presented by the locals at the kick-off of this eighteenth day of the championship. With Titouan Hallé, usual receiver/attacker, in the “pointy” position and the second passer, Liam Varier at the helm, Fedor Ivanov just returning from a flu-like illness, Nazairiens like Chaumontais started the game with, already, unconsciously or not , part of their mind turned towards the Champions League meeting next Wednesday.
A situation that the Haut-Marnais understand better at the start of the meeting with, quickly, a quality of service which undermines the premises (3-8). Helped by an already very solid Sebastian Closter at his back base, the visitors push their hosts to make mistakes in attack, and also wear them out, mentally and physically, in often winning “rallies” (7-17). Even if Fedor Ivanov takes over the orchestration of the Nazairian game, the locals are constantly under pressure in reception and cannot develop the slightest exchange successfully: 11-24 in 18′.
As was to be expected, the scenario is not the same at the start of the second set. Saint-Nazaire rectifies the situation, particularly in reception, and can use the large size of central Luuc Van der Ent to find more efficiency (8-8)…
The boost
But without pushing the CVB 52 to its limits. Relying on a “block/defense” that is still as compact, the Cévebistes are the first to break away with the score (8-12), but however see their room for maneuver reduce as the minutes pass. The fault in particular is a lesser offensive realism (19-18), which Pierre Toledo takes care to forget with his quality of service at the best of times (20-20, then 20-24). Enough for CVB 52 to seal the deal: 21-25 in 26′. Since Jacob Pasteur came into play, the Chaumontais have undeniably given the offensive boost necessary to step on the accelerator again. The American proved it again at the start of the third act, allowing his team to quickly regain control of the game (5-10). And even if the Nazairian “block” slows down the opposing ardor a little (9-11), the Cévebistes quickly resume their march forward which the locals cannot stop (13-18). Pierre Toledo is once again at the origin of this fanfare recovery, at the net as well as in service and in defense: an enormous job which delivers, each time, a new blow to the Nazairiens (14-22). The outcome of the meeting is no longer in doubt, even if the CVB 52 does, quite unintentionally, make the fun last a bit: 20-25 in 27′.
An authoritative and convincing victory which remains a good omen before the decisive meeting in the Champions League, Wednesday January 29, against Sofia, in Palestra, to continue the adventure in the European Cup.
-Laurent Génin
The technical sheet
Saint-Nazaire – CVB 52 0-3 (11-25, 21-25, 20-25)
In Saint-Nazaire (Pierre-de-Coubertin room). 1,098 spectators.
Referees: MM. Square and Kara.
SAINT-NAZAIRE VBA: 28 winning attacks (Ewert and Hallé 8); 7 winning blocks (Van der Ent 3); 0 winning serves; 21 unforced errors (Ewert and Hallé 7). Starting six: Ewert (9), Hallé (9),
Spencer (cap., 3), Van der Ent (7), Varier (-), Martins (2). Libéro: Devèze. Entered into play: Ivanov (1), Valefuaniu (4), Burel (-). Enter. : F. Bertini.
CHAUMONT VB 52 HM : 39 winning attacks (Suihkonen 9); 8 winning blocks (Suihkonen and Pasteur 9); 7 winning services (Toledo 4); 17 unforced errors (Henno, Toledo and Pasteur 4). Starting six: Worsley (cap., 4), Holdaway (10), Henno (4), Suihkonen (11), Toledo (13), Polak (3). Libero: Closter. Entered into play: Pasteur (8), Lefaivre (1). Enter. : S. Prandi.
