After losing in the final during the last two seasons, Nice Volley Ball finally reaches Ligue A. This time, Nice defeated Rennes 3-2, a team that led throughout the year in Ligue BM and had won all three matches of the regular season.
After five sets and six match points (4 for Nice, 2 for Rennes), it was the electrified team from Nice, led by Mladen Kasic, that triumphed in the end during the tie-break (20-18) in a gripping match within a suffocating atmosphere.
Obviously, the outcome is harsh and cruel for the Breton club that had done everything by the book up to that point, but which, during the most crucial match of the year, could not seem to fully break free, as if overwhelmed by the pressure and flood of promises it had created throughout the season.
The two teams alternated in scoring (25-20; 18-25; 26-24; 22-25) before the tie-break.
In the fifth set, it was Nice, still fervent, and Rennes who saved two match points to come back to 15-15. Kert Toobal then displayed his flair to allow Rennes to have their own match point (16-15).
Ultimately, the match point was not converted by the Rennes team, who gave themselves another chance to conclude, with a fine attack by Miseikis. But the Rennes players encountered an exceptional Seppanen again (18-18) before bowing to the Nice team eager for revenge.
David Feughouo, struggling during four sets in service, unleashed two colossal serves, and at 18-19, Jérôme Clere’s smash would ultimately be the one clinching victory.
