Nice Volley-Ball played a very important match for their survival, on the side of Nantes.
The protégés of coach Ratko Peris are currently embarked on a survival mission to keep Nice Volley-Ball in this Ligue A championship. Twelfth in the standings, Nice was visiting Nantes, ranked second to last (13th). The Nantais, just one point behind the Azuréens, could move ahead of their day’s opponent in case of victory.
A cruel first set
Nice Volley-Ball attacked the match with good intentions. As usual, Serbian opposite hitter Leo Andric and captain Jérôme Clere led the way with two great attacks (2-4). Well positioned defensively, Nice lacked efficiency in their offensives. Clere made two errors (4-4). The Nantais gradually gained confidence. The block by Slovak opposite, Peter Michalovic, allowed the locals to make the first break (8-5). But Nice did not let themselves be defeated. The Azuréens came back to tie the score thanks to their middle blocker, Rodney Ah-Kong, who was inspired at the start of the match (9-9). Lacking confidence, Nice committed many inaccuracies.
Nantes took advantage to take the lead (12-10). But the Nantais were also clumsy, and the back-and-forth ensued between the two teams. Nice even widened the gap with an ace from Ah-Kong (13-16). For Nantes, coach Flavio Burtini called a first timeout. It benefited the Nantais. The locals tied the game again with a winning block from middle blocker Médéric Henry (18-18). More aggressive at the end of this first set, Nantes took the lead on a block by Spaniard Sergio Noda Blanco (22-21). Nice cracked, and the Nantais eventually secured the first set following another block, signed Henry (28-26). Nice could have regrets.
A strong response in the second set
Buoyed by winning the first set, the locals started strong in the second set, like Michalovic’s ace (2-0). Nice weathered the storm and managed to strike back. Nice even made the first significant break after a block by Andric (5-7). But, like the first set, Nantes held on, and Nice began to falter. Andric made an error, and the Nantais took the lead (10-9). But the Azuréens also showed resilience. Bosniaque Gojko Cuk delivered a strong performance, as did captain Clere, allowing Nice to take the lead halfway through the second set (13-16).
The score mirrored the first set, and Burtini requested another timeout. Unlike the first set, this timeout changed nothing. Ratko Peris’s protégés played well. Andric continued to widen the gap with devastating attacks (17-22). Unfazed, Nice Volley-Ball finally won the second set calmly, after two blocks from Andric and Cuk (19-25). Driven by the trio Andric-Clere-Cuk, the Azuréens presented an excellent image in this second set. Everything was left to play for in this match, but Nice seemed to have a chance.
The rout in the third set
Evidently angered after losing the second set, the Nantais sought to retaliate. Henry’s incisive attacks continued to hurt Nice (3-2). The Azuréens fell back into bad habits, exemplified by an error from Andric (6-4). On their side, Nantes played better in this set, and Bartos opened up a significant gap (8-5). Nice completely faltered, especially offensively. Poor choices succeeded each other. Andric, twice, Salerno, and Clere all made errors consecutively. Well-positioned defensively, the Nantais surged ahead on the scoreboard (15-7).
The timeouts requested by Ratko Peris made no difference. Nantes was cruising, and Henry continued his offensive recital (17-7). Out of solutions, Jérôme Clere’s teammates suffered the full force of the locals’ assaults. Bartos continued to increase the lead (20-9). Nice finally regained momentum with an ace by Estonian setter Markus Keel and blocks from Clere and Cuk (20-13). But this response came too late. Bartos remained as implacable as ever (23-13). The Czech was unstoppable, ultimately concluding the first set with a winning block (25-14). Trailing two sets to one, Nice found themselves on the brink and needed to react.
The very bad deal
The fourth set began like the third. Nantes played their volleyball to perfection, driven by Michalovic and Henry, both still very precise offensively (4-0). Nice’s response came through Matias Giraudo. The Azuréen setter achieved back-to-back a winning block, then an ace. Hector Salerno eventually brought the teams back to level terms (7-7). Nice played better, and Giraudo executed another important block. Salerno remained effective in attacks, and Nice made the break (14-17). But Nantes clung to the score, once again thanks to Bartos, who was named man of the match. Well-supported by Michalovic and Noda Blanco, he helped his team tie again, then regain the advantage (22-20).
Finally, Michalovic scored the last point of the match with a fierce attack (25-23). Nice Volley-Ball logically succumbed. This defeat was a very bad deal for Ratko Peris’s protégés. Outdone by their day’s opponent, Nice is now second to last in the championship (13th). There are three matches left in this championship. Nice is still ahead of GFC Ajaccio, but every point is worth gold to avoid finishing in this last spot synonymous with relegation. The next match, starting Saturday, against Cambrai, will be crucial.
