From our special correspondent in Montpellier
Montpellier : 3
Alterna Stade Poitevin: 0
Sad to the end. You only had to see Franco Massimino or Jackson Howe eating their fries, staring into space, sitting on a sidewalk, next to the bus that was going to take them back to Poitiers that night, to understand that this evening had been dark for the Alterna SPVB. The most difficult of the season, even if the outings in Sète (3-0) and Nice (3-0) had already not been brilliant. And the nine hours of driving that followed couldn't have been much happier after this disillusionment experienced in Montpellier.
“We take 3-0 like a junior team”
Small consolation, the Poitevins have, at least, arrived earlier than expected in Vienne. But that was not going to console any member of the Stade delegation. And especially not Cédric Enard, annoyed by the scenario of a one-sided match. “It’s a huge disappointmentsaid the Poitevin manager. We faced Montpellier who, when he plays like that, is one of the best with Tourcoing. But on our side, there was nothing. Nothing at all. It was a desert. However, it was time to measure ourselves against a team cut out for the title. We did not respect the event. It drives me crazy. » A legitimate exasperation.
Match statistics.
© (Infographic NR-CP)
Because despite their series of four consecutive victories before moving to Hérault, the Poitevins showed a very pale face against the Montpellier residents, it is true, almost unplayable, as had already been the case the previous weekend in Saint-Nazaire (0-3). It also took less time for Loïc Le Marrec's protégés to win the first set (25-12) than for some of the 2,612 spectators at the Jacque-Chaban-Delmas sports center to find a parking space near the 'a sold-out venue…
And not sure that with the strikes of public transport and VTC drivers this Tuesday, in Montpellier, some did not miss most of this “clash of champions”, with Nicolas Le Goff and Earvin Ngapeth on each side of the net, which only had the name. Because in just over an hour (1h07) and three sets (25-12, 25-16, 25-16), it was all over, as Hérault's domination was so impressive (14 blocks to 3; 6 aces at 3; 61% attacking efficiency on one side and 36% on the other; 72% positive receptions for the MHSC VB and 46% for the Alterna SPVB) that the lack of glaring Poitevin character, despite the 12 points from Earvin Ngapeth.
And it didn't matter who was on the pitch, since Dan Lewis gave Maxime Roatta, Tim Peter, Chris Byam and Thomas Pujol a chance. Without it working, or barely in the second set (10-10 then 18-16) before Dimitar Dimitrov arrived to serve and folded the matter (25-16). “We make horrible mistakes and we take 3-0 like a team of juniorssummarized Cédric Enard. It's not good. As much as I was very proud of the guys after the victory against Plessis-Robinson (3-1) because it had been acquired through pain, I am not happy at all. Losing here is no problem. But on condition of putting what is needed on the ground. » And not to be totally off topic…
