The MSL volleyball players didn’t want to spend too much time on the courts this weekend. Five of the six matches of this 3e day ended in three sets. Only Cannes made the suspense last a little against Chaumont by winning the first round (29-27), before suffering in the next three against Haut-Marnais (16-25, 20-25, 22-25).
The five other victorious teams did not even need 1 hour 40 minutes to dominate their opponents. Between confirmations and firsts.
Never two without three
Three teams are still undefeated in the MSL: Montpellier, winner in Paris (3-0), Tourcoing, who beat Narbonne (3-0) in Harnes, and Alterna Stade Poitevin, who defeated French champion Saint- Nazaire (3-0). But it was not so simple for Earvin Ngapeth and his partners. Manhandled during a large part of the sets, the double Olympic champion and the Poitevins, on the other hand, proved irresistible in each of the money-times to stock up on points and confidence.
Rising
That’s it, it’s done! Tours and Chaumont, two big regulars in the last four of MSL, have finally achieved their first success of the season. With Zeljko Coric finally back from suspension, the TVB made short work of a sad Plessis-Robinson (3-0) while the CVB 52 was able to rely on its duo of receivers-attackers Mathis Henno (22 points) – Jacob Pasteur (23 points) to win at promoted Cannes (1-3).
Declining
A little break for Nice. Winner of Toulouse (3-1) and only beaten in the tie-break in Montpellier (12-3), Brice Donat’s team was sharply dominated, at home, by Arago de Sète (0-3) led by an almost unstoppable Hugo De Leon (19 points at 75% efficiency). The absence of Ryley Barnes was felt on the Riviera side.
The sentence
“The state of mind we display is perfect. » Raphaël Corre could be satisfied after Montpellier’s victory in Paris (0-3). The third in three matches for the Hérault team, already victorious in the Super Cup before the start of the championship. Led by the Palacios – Dimitrov duo (28 pts between them), the MHSC-VB struck a big blow in the capital by winning in three sets and showing great mental virtues, especially in the 3e round with a nice comeback (13-8, 18-13 then 23-25). “Beyond the content and the result which is very good, it is the grinta that we manage to put on an entire match which is great”appreciated the international smuggler in the columns of Free Midday.
The numbers
100. Like the efficiency percentage of the Poitevin centrals against Saint-Nazaire. Simon Magnin (9/9) and Jackson Howe (5/5) simply delivered the perfect match offensively. Like the central Touraine Leandro Aracaju (8/8) elsewhere.
10. This is the number of winning blocks recorded by Tourcoing against Narbonne. Despite their difficulty on attack, Pablo Kukarstev (3 blocks) and Jan Martinez (2 blocks) caught up well at the net, to support Simon Roehrig (3 blocks) and Michael Parkinson (2 blocks).
The next day
Friday : Chaumont – Tours.
SATURDAY : Plessis-Robinson – Tourcoing, Nice – Paris, Montpellier – Cannes, Narbonne – Toulouse.
Sunday : Sète – Poitiers.
