He still didn’t steal the show. Despite his MVP status after a great performance, despite the « Thibaut, Thibaut » chanted by Mathys Ngapeth once the Lawson-Body room was almost emptied of its 2,485 supporters, Thibaut Thoral does not yet have the popularity of “Magic Earvin”, attacked from all sides as he left the locker room.
His pair among the Poitevin receivers-attackers were also entitled to their moments of signings and selfies following the new victory of Alterna Stade Poitevin against Saint-Nazaire (3-0). And to many congratulations, including those from Dominique Amans, the former manager of Nantes-Rezé, who came to see his former protégés shine against the reigning French champion, like a decisive Thibaut Thoral, therefore, with his 13 points (12 winning attacks at 60%, 1 winning counter) but also from an impeccable Simon Magnin in attack (9/9), perfect replacement for an injured Renan Michelucci who remained in libero outfit on Saturday.
“We have always been calm”
But this success in three sets is deceptive. Because despite their good behavior on serve (7 aces for 10 errors), Dan Lewis’s protégés suffered, as the final score does not necessarily show (25-21, 25-23, 25-22). “It was a very close, very intense matchadmitted Thibaut Thoral. We were behind at the start of the set and we came back little by little. We were always calm even when we were one or two points behind. We knew we were going to do the right thing. » These two blocks from Brett Walsh in the money-time of the second set, these decisive defenses from Earvin Ngapeth followed by winning attacks from Thibaut Thoral or this ace from Dusan Nikolic in the next…
Always that little extra to change the last nine sets contested by Alterna Stade Poitevin, all of which fell into their hands. Victory breeds victory…and confidence. “We get some when we win close setsconfirmed the receiver-attacker. We know that a championship is played out on that. It reminds me a little of what we experienced with Nantes-Rezé two years ago. We know that it will eventually happen and work in our favor. We must not rest on this because it is not good to be led. The day we are a little less well physically, perhaps it will pass a little less. We have to make a little extra effort to beat certain teams. There are still things we can do much better but it’s great, it has to continue. » Until when?
With efficient starters, talented substitutes who are just waiting to make their contribution, a meticulous coach and a wild public, this Alterna SPVB has the potential to chain other successes, and do even better than the beginning of the 2020-2021 season (3 successes). And yet this was not a foregone conclusion given the schedule. “It’s complicated and before the championship started, I said to myself that it wouldn’t be so bad to win two matches out of the first sixsaid Thibaut Thoral. We already have three victories, it’s great. It couldn’t start better. » Even if the rest does not look easy with three matches in five days in Sète, Sunday, against Tourcoing, Wednesday, and in Tours, Friday. But it seems that more is needed to do in Poitevins…
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