VBP Niort: 3
Rezé: 0
With an angry smash after three wasted match points, Alain Fossi came to conclude the afternoon at VBP Niort, this Sunday, December 22. A bit like a symbol, finally, of this Niort team which expected to experience a delicate season, wave of departures obliges, but which has just ended 2024 with a clear and flawless success against Rezé (3-0), yet better ranked.
And the content was more of the kind that would make the experienced Cameroonian coach-player smile. “It’s one of the matches that we have controlled the most this season. Bravo to the guys and their seriousness. We managed the end of the year well, with these three victories in a row”he appreciated.
The show Bassoko
The start of the match, moreover, clearly reflected this desire to end on a good note. If the start of the first set was rather tight, with two teams neck and neck (6-6), Bassoko then took things in hand. On serve and smash, his striking power tormented Rezé, helpless. And at 15-10, Charlélie Lecomte, the young opposing coach, was forced to take a first timeout, just to stop the bleeding.
But Niort, well regulated and diligent in the block, inexorably broke away, also taking advantage of Rezé's waste. Bassoko, again, sent an ace that looked more like a missile and at 19-11, the hardest part was done. Despite a small highlight from the visitors (1-5, 22-17), Bassoko, again, offered his team six set points before realizing the second to win the set (25-19).
With this advantage, Niort didn't take long to get back on track in the second set. Unable to put his game in place, particularly in attack, Rezé was already significantly behind when Lecomte, visibly short of solutions, took his first timeout (10-5).
Maintenance already well underway
A tone above, the VBPN also relied on Fossi, author of an ace for 16-8. Symbol of the opponent's waste, Gaborit lost his support on serve and Mairesse, in the process, sent his into the net. After a wild final point to give themselves nine set points, the Deux-Sévriens did not miss the boat and concluded (25-18).
The final set, however, was a little tighter. Often ahead in the score, the VBPN wasted a little in turn, leaving the imposing Audusseau, with his magnificent purple dye, to vent his accumulated frustration with powerful smashes (9-7). Bassoko, who often capsized Barbusse with his impressive extensions and his overpowering hand, was nevertheless responsible for killing any small revival of enthusiasm (13-11).
Then relayed by Fossi and Pagerie, it allowed Niort to be in a good position to finish. And after three failures, it was the first one, therefore, who completed this successful performance (25-23). “We want to play and it shows. The group is coming together well and we're having fun. We are happy with the performance. We have already done the hardest work to move towards maintenance. Now, if we finish on the podium, that will be a bonus! “, he said, mischievously. And why not, after all?
Sets: 25-19 in 22', 28-18 in 22', 25-23 in 26'.
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