Volleyball: Nice Volley-Ball launches its season in a tight match against Poitiers

Beaten by Tours 3-1 last week, in a match where they had not underperformed, the Eagles corrected course today and secured a victory against Poitiers (3-1). American spiker Kevin Kobrine shone against his former club and finished as MVP of this match.

For the second day of Alterna Volstar, Brice Donat’s Eagles returned to their Palmeira Giamarchi hall for the first time this season in order to face Alterna Stade Poitevin Volley-Ball.

After a 3-1 defeat on the first day against Tours, the Eagles had the opportunity to bounce back against a Poitiers team that also fell at the start against their Côte d’Azur neighbor, Cannes (2-3).

There was a good opportunity for the Eagles against a team that has often suited them lately, especially since the Poitiers team lost many key players during the transfer window. One of them, American spiker Kevin Kobrine, was actually recruited by Nice Volley-Ball. For his first home match in his new colors, he could make an impression against his former club.

A clean performance in the first set

Without being perfect, the Nice players did the job in this first set thanks to their collective strength. From the start of the set, the Eagles took the lead 6-3. A three-point advantage that the Poitiers players never managed to catch up.

It was central Lohan Nack-Minyem, gold medalist at the Mediterranean Games this summer, who made the biggest impression for the Eagles. He achieved four winning blocks on the set, never leaving the Poitiers players comfortable when attacking.

In the money-time of this set, spiker Kevin Kobrine took control, unleashing his arm several times, to finish the first set: 25-21. (1-0)

The only negative point for the Eagles: service reception. They suffered greatly on the opposing serves, particularly on the smash serves of Siebe Korenblek, the 2.15m tall Poitiers central. The Côte d’Azur players had difficulty reading his trajectories, and many receptions were not held, offering easy ammunition to their opponents.

Kévin Kobrine to the rescue

From the start of the second set, Poitiers doubled their efforts to make up ground. Much more precise in building their attacks, and always as threatening on serves, the Blacks of Stade Poitevin regularly led in this set, without managing to create a significant gap.

With a very solid block, the Eagles were able to stay in the match by fighting for every ball. 20-20, then 23-23 and 24-24, the back-and-forth between the two teams continued until Kobrine’s winning serve at 25-24, which again confirmed his contribution in important moments. Second set for the Eagles, 26-24. (2-0)

Nice scared themselves until the end

While they were leading comfortably 19-12 in the third set, the Nice players collapsed at the moment of closing it out. Little by little, the Poitiers players regained confidence, and ultimately won 24-26 in a shocked Palmeira Giamarchi hall. (2-1)

The Eagles again faltered on service reception, and this time the collective was unable to compensate. In the fourth set, Poitiers started very strong, then the match became more balanced thanks to the two strong men, Fausto Diaz and Kevin Kobrine. In pain, Nice ultimately won this fourth set 25-23. (3-1)

The Eagles ultimately prevailed in four sets against Poitiers (25-21, 26-24, 24-26, 25-23) and confirm the good promise shown on the first day. Kevin Kobrine did not disappoint in his reunion with his former club, and was clearly the man of the match. Next match Sunday, October 25, away against Tourcoing. Kick-off at 5 p.m.