Zora Chappatte: “My sister tells me things that others wouldn’t dare”

“There is rivalry, but we always want the best for each other.” Zora Chappatte talks about her big sister Kimy (21 years old). The two volleyball players — from Les Bois au Jura — will form the Volley Franches-Montagnes libero duo this season. Two sisters for one place on the field. The eldest sees their rivalry as a strength: “Playing with your sister is an opportunity, not everyone has the opportunity to do it. These are unique memories that we will remember for the rest of our lives.”

For the Chappattes, volleyball is a family affair. Inspired by her mother, Kimy was the first to start playing VFM, her little sister quickly joined her. From now on, even the third sister is part of the Jura club where she seems to be destined for a position as… courier, just for a change. “Our parents follow us everywhere, so we talk a lot about volleyball at home, not just between Zora and me,” explains Kimy.

This Sunday, Volley Franches-Montagnes will return to the elite of Swiss volleyball after a year spent at the lower level. Kimy, a law student, has already experienced this level of play for two years with her training club and last year for six months with the NUC to replace the injured national team libero Fabiana Mottis. On the other hand, for the 18-year-old youngest it will be a first: “I am looking forward to experiencing a national A league match, I would like to have playing time too, I do not want to spend my season on the bench “, she explains.

The two sisters who say they “feel close to each other, but with a sometimes explosive relationship” will try this season to best help the club achieve its objective: maintenance. “We don’t want to go down to the LNB and if we can place ourselves in the eight (editor’s note: synonymous with play-off) to avoid matches of fear it would be beneficial,” explains Kimy.

The libero — who wears a different jersey from the other players — replaces another player in the back positions of the court in order to improve the quality of reception and defense. But only one can be on the field, so the two sisters will have to share playing time. “Normally, when you are on the bench, there is only the disappointment of not playing. But there if it’s my sister who plays in my place, of course I would want to play, but I also have the pride of seeing her on the field,” she agrees.

Kimy, more experienced, is tipped to be the main libero at VFM. So she tries to give the best advice to her sister. “She dares to tell me the things I need in more crude ways, after times I have the impression that she is always on my back, but it is for my good”, describes the youngest, who aspires to become an architect at the same time. The championship therefore begins this Sunday for the Jurassiennes. They welcome Düdingen, finalist of the last championship, at 4:30 p.m. in Saignelégier. Subsequently, they will compete against three other French-speaking clubs.

After having achieved what is surely the best season in the history of Swiss volleyball (treble and European Cup final), Neuchâtel UC resumes with a lot of uncertainty. If the objectives are as high as ever with the ambition of once again achieving the treble (supercup, cup, championship), Lauren Bertolacci’s team experienced numerous departures at the end of last season. “We are entering a new cycle with the departure of important players,” explains Jo Gutknecht. The president of the NUC elaborates: “The public must not get used to experiencing European Cup finals every season, but we always form teams to play the leading roles.”

For its part, VBC Cheseaux is banking on continuity with the extension of their coach Laura Girolami. “We have a team without a big star, our great strength will be the collective,” says the Neuchâteloise. Arriving at the start of the last financial year, she instilled a new style of play, faster and modern, into the Vaud team which wants to at least remain in the elite.

Genève Volley, fifth last year, is looking to do even better. “We have big ambitions, with girls capable of scoring points in each position,” explains the experienced Geneva Volleyball coach, Andreas Vollmer. The players from the end of the lake begin this Saturday with a trip to the canton of Saint-Gall, to face Toggenburg.