the qualification that goes well for the Tours Volley-Ball

Tours : 3
Schönenwerd : 1

The Tours VB will see Zagreb. Proof that nothing is ever completely written in advance, the Friedrichshafen – TVB promised in the round of 16 will not take place. And it is therefore the Germans who will fail, and not the Touraines. Which, given the times above Grenon, is not entirely insignificant…

Of course, Schönenwerd is not a Swiss mountain, but the double Swiss champion was able to show during two sets how much he could be a scratch. With flashes, embodied by Mahela, the leaping pointy and at times supersonic server. With a sense of defense which, as in the first leg, forced the TVB to try again two, three, four, five times so as not to always conclude.

The Tourangeaux extinguished the Swiss flame

But it was the Tourangeaux who managed to extinguish the Swiss flame. By accepting the fight, without losing patience. By pressing on the serve, undoubtedly more than on the way out. By all moving up the ranks throughout the match, like Hermans Egleskalns or Zeljko Coric, among others.

And the TVB was therefore able to get the three sets it needed, without being afraid. Better, by even being able to rotate at the end of the match, while the Schönenwerd coach had opened his bench (with three young people aged 17 and 18 on the field!), symbolically surrendering their weapons.

A first impression of déjà vu…

But before getting there, Tours had to work hard, offering the public, who would no doubt have done without a summary of the first leg… After a clear first point from Egleskalns, another from Marshman, Schönenwerd seized his luck, and not half. While, each at their own end of the net, neither Gergye nor Egleskalns managed to put the ball on the ground, Coenen punished the TVB and Mahela hit the nail on the head with an ace to lead 2-5. Or like a feeling of déjà vu…

Which was going to be repeated a bit too often, but year after year, the TVB responded and above all saw luck smile on it twice. Which is no small thing! While Coenen had trapped the block, a wire foul was called for a welcome 9-9, then Quiroga won his face-to-face with the opposing passer, for a 10-9. The TVB was then launched, increasing the score to +3 thanks to an ace from Quiroga (14-11), to +4 on another from Coric (20-16) and ultimately concluding 25-21, with an all-out attack. in finesse of Gergye.

Mahela's set in gold

Far from being dampened by the loss of this round, the Swiss continued to force the TVB to play and especially to defend, failing to score at first intention. It was rather logical that Schönenwerd led 6-8, and it was with the strength of the wrist that the TVB responded to lead 13-11.

An advantage knocked out in four serves by Mahela! The sharp Sri Lankan, also author of a 6/7 in this round, amazed his people and especially the Touraine reception (13-16). Which, fortunately, was not going to relive Tourcoing's final nightmare. If Tours equalized at 18-18, 19-19, if he erased two set points under the applause of Grenon, including a first hand that was off balance but damn well seen by Coric (24-24), he gave in 24- 26.

Final two one-sided sets

But the TVB was not going to let Schönenwerd stay in the game any longer. During the next two rounds, he definitively defeated the Swiss attackers, like Mahela, going from 86% in the second act to 1 /2 in the third and especially a 1/9 in the last… Tours finally found the opening, with a powerful Gergye, centrals who combined better with Coric, Egleskalns who always assured.

All this was frankly too much for Schöni who gave in 25-15 and 25-17. Last two sets where, without doubt, the real balance of power between the two teams will be expressed. Which does not take anything away from the Swiss combativeness during this double face-to-face, and which does not yet completely free the people of Tours from their doubts. But the qualification is there, and it allows them to experience this European Cup in the future. And that's the best that can happen to them.