“It’s a real return to earth”. Along the pitch, Dan Lewis, the Poitevin coach, could only see the damage by delving into the statistics sheet of a match which ended in the cauldron of Gianmarchi-Palmeira, sold out for several days, by a severe 3-0 defeat.
Beyond the setback, facing the Niçois in fusion, carried by the astonishing Simon Hirsch, the best attacker in the MSL who scored more than 20 points per match, it is the inability of the Vienna players to respond athletically to the Riviera Eagles when the latter accelerated in the heart of each set.
“I’m waiting for a reaction”
“We lacked a collective response and Nice gained confidence. We chased the score too often,” added the Canadian technician from Alterna Stade Poitevin.
A few meters away, Brice Donat could smile. The Nice coach came to take up a personal challenge on the Côte d'Azur after leaving Poitiers this summer. Inevitably, the diagnosis comes to light.
The former Poitiers technician, knowing his former players inside out, managed the perfect shot while his counterpart, tense and often irritated by the progress of the match, did not find the keys to revolt.
Even the big debut of the experienced Argentinian Franco Massimino (36 years old) – elected best libero in Marmara SpikeLigue last year with Nantes-Rézé, back from a long suspension and motivated by the idea of starting his lease with his new club – were not enough. “We were unable to raise our level”he explained, also disappointed with this Mediterranean evening.
Three devastating waves suffered
“The second set is certainly the key moment of the match”continues Dan Lewis. Coming back to 22-22, we could think that the maturity of Poitou could make the difference against the carelessness of Nice.
It was not the case, Nice completed this set 26-24 and achieved its victory in an identical scenario.
An acceleration as brutal as it was sudden that Earvin Ngapeth's partners were unable to follow, or by far, when the score was up.
By suffering three devastating waves (6-1 conceded in set 1 from 5-5 to 11-6; 5-0 in set 2 from 6-6 to 11-6 and 8-0 in set 3 from 12-9 at 20-9), Dan Lewis's men suffered without revolting.
This is certainly the most worrying lesson from this defeat, beyond the setback against a Nice team which will make other direct rivals suffer this season. “I’m waiting for a reaction,” concludes the Alterna coach. This is good since Poitiers will be reunited with its audience with the receptions in Paris (Saturday November 9) and Toulouse (Friday November 15). All eyes will inevitably be on the players and their coach to once again start moving forward.
