victory first for the Tours VB

From our special correspondent in Schönenwerd

Schönenwerd : 2
Tours : 3

The TVB players knew the danger. Marcelo Fronckowiak and his deputies David Sousa and Thomas Royer had pointed out almost everything. From Mahela, this “leaping player” to the quality of work and organization of this team which was therefore necessary “above all, don’t underestimate”.

Schöni did what TVB has done so often in Europe…

But Schönenwerd – also called “Schöni” – did to TVB what Tours has inflicted so many times on those more powerful than him in the European Cup… The Swiss played with heart and commitment. They seized their momentum, tickled, pushed the Tourangeaux until they were outwitted. And it all almost went wrong.

Only bankrupt, since the TVB was able to find itself in the fourth set, and save a tie-break where the bouncing Mahela turned into an infernal server…

A first set announcing what’s to come

And yet, Tours had given pledges from the outset. With Pothron serving and Marshman to dry Mahela in the block twice, the Tourangeaux went into orbit (1-4). Egleskalns continued the diagonals and the score was already 3-7. Except it didn't last. Hyperactive in defense, imperturbable in reception, opportunistic as often as possible, Schönenwerd grabbed point by point, tirelessly went from -3 to -1 and vice versa. Until making the switch to 17-16.

Definitive shift, because pushed by its audience – 380 people, minus a dozen supporters from Tours – “Schöni” got carried away without losing his head in the least. Tours, on the other hand, made mistakes, particularly in the service (7). And it ended with a 25-23 which set the tone for the evening.

And this despite a second set perfectly mastered by the TVB, which by being strong on its bases, was able to quickly take cover by leading 6-12. The only threat here will come from an outburst of anger, embodied by a Roland Gergye who came out of control, following two decisions by the linesman against Tours. Despite a score that went from 8-14 to 11-14, TVB knew how to keep a cool head to win this round with an excellent 18-25.

A Mahela “on fire”

But he didn't know how to continue. And that’s obviously one of the takeaways from this evening for him. Muzzled in the second set, Mahela quickly found himself « on fire » as the speaker will say to put pressure on a Touraine team which will never have managed to impose its own on the Swiss reception.

After a first warning by Ulrich when Marshman had not managed to place his attack in the center just before (7-5), then a few ties, the TVB stuck and paid cash for their mistakes. The entry of Quiroga, in place of a too subdued Pothron, did good, as did that of Voss in the block (18-17), but Schönenwerd could not let the opportunity offered to him pass by . He therefore seized it, while the TVB, once again, gave points in the money-time, with a 25-22 finish which forced him to, at best, seek a success in the tie-break .

And this was not obvious given the start of the fourth round. The Tourangeaux then stammered their volleyball. Ulrich's point from 7-7, while neither Marshman, nor Quiroga, nor Egleskalns had managed to conclude on this same exchange, left a shadow of doubt seen from the edge of the field…

Only a shadow, since it was from there that the TVB tightened its game with two blocks from Aracaju and Egleskalns as the first detonators, followed by a series of services from Marshman, an ace from the Latvian sharp. At 9-14, Tours was back. Aracaju's top defense, a few points later, concluded by Quiroga, was a great illustration of this newfound momentum which resulted in a 15-25 in this fourth round!

A high-risk tie-break

TVB continued at the same pace at the start of the tie-break, leading 7-11. But Mahela, author of 26 points in the end, recalled to everyone's good memories, a diagonal first then three serves which put Ramon on the gridiron and the entire TVB in the red. At 12-12, it was honestly no longer the same! But Egleskalns was there to do the job, as was Coric at the helm. And it was on the service of the second that the first concluded at 13-15.

Just what was needed for a team which had a primary mission: to follow up with a second success, after that of Narbonne. It's done, and it means a lot for the people of Tours.