At the time when the Nazairians started their crusade against the Czechs of Budejovice (6 p.m.), the Italian ogre Perugia, whose meeting in Ankara had started two hours earlier, had already crushed the Turks (0-3) and continued its flawless. He thus consolidated his status as favorite in Pool D. Therefore, for Saint-Nazaire, a favorable result would allow him to seek provisional second place and take a certain option for the rest of the competition.
READ ALSO. Volleyball. Champions League: Henri Léon, the SNVBA child prodigy
Victim of a twisted ankle against Tours last weekend, the phenomenon Henri Léon was left to rest, when Helder Spencer and Romain Devèze made their comeback among the group. Very aggressive in their intentions from the start, the Nazairiens, who controlled the game well, offered themselves a first break (8-11) before seeing the Czechs return to their wheel.
“The risk-taking paid off”
Jordan Ewert then took charge and continued to do damage on serve (4 aces in the first set!), giving his partners the advantage. Leading one set to nothing and 9-3 in the second, all the sensors seemed green. This was without counting on Slavic tenacity!
More aggressive on his throws, Budejovice hung on, grabbed (17-18), and made the Nazairiens doubt. Liam Varier’s good return to service restored the balance and gave a little enthusiasm to his partners (18-21), aware of having perhaps come close to being penalized.
Despite a decompression in the third act, Fulvio Bertini’s men resumed their march forward in the fourth under the leadership of new entrant Nicolas Burel (6-11).
READ ALSO. Pays de la Loire sports clubs in turn affected by cuts in subsidies
-If the scenario of the second seemed to present itself again (6-11, then 10-11), the end of the match finally turned into a demonstration (13-20), and the Maritimes won a second victory in three matches in this League of Nations. champions. A good omen for the future! “It’s a superb collective victoryenjoyed Gilles Gosselin. We took the match from the right end by putting a lot of pressure on the serve, and the risk-taking paid off this evening. The return of the wounded did us good. We will try to conclude this great week with a victory over Montpellier on Saturday at home”
Budejovice – Saint-Nazaire: 1 – 3
(23-25 and 33′, 21-25 and 29′, 25-18 and 25′, 17-25 and 27′)
Budejovice : M. Emmer 1, G. Bitar 2, T. Brichta 5, A. Gonzalez Rodriguez, R. Rodiguez 6, S. Nikpoor 21, J. Lestina 5, V. Pitner, A. Okolic 3, O. Sedlacek 6, S. Taylor-Parks 9, P. Michalek (libero), M. Kovarik (libero). Coach : Zdenek Smejkal.
Saint-Nazaire : J. Ewert 17, T. Hallé 2, N. Burel 4, H. Spencer 6, L. Van Der Ent 6, H. Léon, R. Valefuaniu, L. Varier, L. Martins 7, F. Ivanov 3, R. Devèze (libero), A. Taramini, J. Canham 22. Coach : Fulvio Bertini.
Referees : Mr. Maroszek and Ms. Rodriguez Machin. 1352 spectators.
