The French volleyball team shone tonight in Cannes for its only preparation match, 3 sets to 1. A convincing victory, despite the lost set.ย
The Palais des Sports in Cannes was on fire tonight! The French volleyball team played its only preparation match before the World Championships, in the Philippines, starting from September 12. After the blow received less than a month ago in the quarter-finals of the Nations League, the French team wanted to build up confidence again.
At the kickoff of the match, only one player was absent from the starting six. It was the outside hitter, Earvin Ngapeth. The French volleyball star is recovering from tendinopathy of the right knee. He was back on the match sheet for the first time. The French team quickly secured the break in the first set.
Andrea Giani’s men played their volleyball as they know how to do so well. The Serbians seemed powerless at the start of the match. The Serbian coach was forced to take two time-outs to rally his troops. The second time-out proved fruitful, with the Serbians winning seven of the next nine points. A wake-up that came too late, allowing the French team to win the first set (25-19).
Mathis Henno in great formย
The second set began like the first. The French team was dominant, with the Serbians unable to find any solution. Mathis Henno was the symbol of this showcase. With three aces in this set, the son of legend Hubert Henno played sumptuous volleyball. If the French had doubts momentarily in the first act, they did not falter in the second (25-15). A one-sided match.
During these first two sets, the serve was the lethal weapon for the French team. No fewer than eight aces during this period. A stark contrast with the Nations League quarter-final less than a month ago. Against the Slovenians, the reigning Olympic champions managed only seven aces in the entire match.
Subs for the third set
The French were ultra-dominant in the first two sets. The coach decided to completely rotate his team. The starting six gave way to substitutes: Quentin Jouffroy, Kรฉvin Tillie, Timothรฉe Carle, Thรฉo Faure, Benjamin Toniutti, and Benjamin Diez. Earvin Ngapeth remained on the bench, still not ready to play any minutes. This rotation allowed the Serbians to compete for the first time against their evening opponents. Gheorghe Creศu’s men led by more than three points in this set, which they eventually won on their third set point (26-28).
Objective: World title
The fourth set was a mere formality for the French team (25-17). The objective of gaining confidence was achieved. The French team dominated comprehensively against their opponents of the night. However, results matter little tonight.ย
The goal for our double Olympic champions is to win the World Championships. It’s the only title missing from the “Ngapeth generation”, who are double Olympic champs, European champions in 2014, and four-time winners of the Nations League. Only the world title eludes them, with their best result being a fourth place in 2014.ย
