The MHSC VB wins the derby against Narbonne and will be able to spend the holidays warm

In their palace in Castelnau which was sold out (but with two stands closed) this Sunday evening – the club had offered free entry for this last match of the year – the MHSC VB players took a model from their leaders to release the great game against Narbonne.

As against Poitiers, during the previous day at home, they mastered the match to win in three straight sets. Forgotten the first leg when the Centurions had cut off the momentum of a MHSC VB then on six victories in a row with a scathing three sets to nothing.

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Audois more comfortable recently away from their base to take points in Paris (loss 3/2) and in Nice won 3/0. But this Sunday, they suffered every time Montpellier went up a notch.

Lopez cracks the defense

A start to the first set where the two teams measure each other, Montpellier widens a gap (9-6) remade by Narbonne with a smash from Patte, a block from Schouten, a fault from Dimitrov (10-10), three directs in this set ; but it is the MHSC VB which is in the lead (16-14, 18-15) with two direct errors in attack which cause Redwitz's time out.

Well felt since the Centurions are back together (18-18, 21-21). Lopez's passage to serve cracks the opposing defense. A block from Corre, two attack errors from Dijoud and Schouten in reception seal the set at 25-21.

Montpellier takes profitable risks

Montpellier starts the second in the same way; a series of Dimitrov serving (3-0), back in play after an interlude, replaced by Lindqvist in the first (5-1). And raise your voice, to take control of the net, in the block with Le Goff (12-6) and Lopez (14-7).

Mass is said (19-9) even if Narbonne doesn't give up (22-14) when Montpellier seems less into it. This is how the Centurions took the 3rd set on their own (5-10) driven by Patte and Schouten.

Two aces from Dimitrov (9-12), a series of Lopez serving and Montpellier nibbles (13-14). Risks paid off on the commitment to regain control at 20-19, 24-21. Narbonne picks up again, saves five match points before giving in on the sixth, 27-25.

Reactions from coaches

Loïc Le Marrec (Montpellier): “We put in some great performances, the group got back on track well. We win but we produce a great game. I'm very attached to that, it's the state of mind. We can lose, miss out, but if there is a fight, we can't blame ourselves much and there, the guys fight. I was a little scared after the – saving – break at Christmas with three days to prepare for this match but once again, the guys took the good side, from the first points. We're ending the year well, we're ending this month of December well. We'll be able to celebrate the New Year in the warmth, that's nice. And then look at the Coupe de France in Cannes which is a priority objective. We will then move on to matches quickly. The second part of the season will go very, very quickly. A month of January always complicated to manage with the fatigue of the first part of the season, the cold coming, the small colds… We will have to be very serious about all that. “.

Rafael Redwitz (Narbonne): “We lacked a little lucidity in certain phases of the game. We were too tense to handle situations with greater ease and confidence. We play all the points as if they were difficult points so obviously the match is tiring for us. With players looking at each other like at the end of the set where there is not the confidence needed to go for the point. A little frustration on this to see that there is still a lack of “killer” spirit in fairly simple phases of play, against a team which knows how to defend one against one and has very high individual technical mastery and doesn't give easy points, takes risks at the right time…“.