VBP Niort: 0
Neptunes of Nantes: 3
At this level of competition, a Volleyball match never really amounts to much. At a point that shifts to the right side, or even a strong moment that we manage to make happen.
The VBP Niort players undoubtedly learned this the hard way this Saturday, December 20, against the Nantes Neptunes reserve. Because Rose Beleng's players, in this last match of the year, delivered a more than coherent match. Like, for example, this first set which will inevitably leave some small regrets.
Applied to the block and in attack, the Deux-Sévriennes thus remained glued to the coattails of their opponents who, for their part, relied on Davai but also on the presence of Legrand, the aptly named, who almost reigned supreme around the net (9-11).
So much so that at 15-15, the hope was there, clearly perceptible, of a first set which would fall into Niort's hands. Except that the machine stalled a little and Nantes, at 15-17, dealt a small blow.
A complicated second set
The turning point of the match, probably, since Jund, Pate and Davai returned smashes which punished the slightest misstep of the VPBN. And on the first set point, the young Velikov, just 17 years old, crucified the locals for a frustrating 18-25, certainly, but also a witness to the Nantes talent present in Barbusse. “Volleyball is all about the details. There, it came down to the reception service. We couldn't get the ball back to the passer and in front, they had a very good service.”analyzed Rose Beleng after the meeting.
What followed, unfortunately for Niort, was going to be almost relentless. Very quickly led in the second set (0-3 then 1-6), Kerpcarova's teammates suffered the pounding of Ana Davai on serve. And at 2-10 in a few minutes, despite the encouragement of Bassong on the bench, the fate of the set was no longer in doubt.
Stung a little, the VBPN reacted well, notably thanks to Minkada, to pick up a little at 10-17. But this time the machine in front wasn't letting anything pass. Helped in the block by Le Mignon and Mossan, the Nantes women moved up a gear.
A reaction to the end
Well organized, they took almost all the points at the net. And with a perfectly adjusted serve, Jeszek gave his team the lead in 21 minutes of play (25-11).
While we thought that the conclusion would come fairly quickly, Niort, almost against all expectations, found some momentum again. Sylvain Quinquis, the opposing coach, took advantage of this cushion in advance to rotate his team a little, which gave rise to a somewhat disjointed start to the set (2-6).
His team made a series of missed serves (three in a row) and the Pexinoises took advantage of this to come back to 8-11, helped by a public keen to encourage this perceptible riot of energy. “This is one of our best matches in content and attitude,” whispered the leader of the VBPN. Very imprecise in attack, the Nantes women were no longer able to build a gap, and at 13-15, their coach was forced to call a timeout.
Strategy paid off, since the scenario of the first set repeated itself: VBP Niort was not that far from the goal but Legrand, with an ace, and Velikov, on the block, put Nantes back in front (19-21).
A final burst from Niort launched by Vagele woke up Barbusse but Davai, whose hand never shook all evening, sent a final winning serve (20-25) to end the match with a 3-0, a little dry, but rather source of promises. “I see progression and there are a lot of changes. We didn't often play with the six type. There are a lot of turnovers, with injuries but also young people. And they hold! They are the ones who will bring back the joy and desire that we need. The final word is to have a great vacation and to cleanse their minds, because in 2025, we want change.”finished Rose Beleng. A great gift idea, certainly.
Sets: 18-25, 11-25, 20-25
