In this new season, the professional team of the Nice Volley Ball Club is renewing itself. It brings together players who have already worn the club’s colors and new recruits, with some even returning from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The new roster of the Nice Volley Ball Club is now official. The team was presented at the premises of the Mediterranean Institute of Risk, Environment, and Sustainable Development of the University Côte d’Azur (IMREDD) in the west of Nice. For the occasion, all the club’s partners, university representatives, and political figures were present.
The President’s Words
After a difficult season, the president of Nice Volley Ball, Alain Griguer, places his trust in this new team. For him, “building a team is always a crucial moment, as the upcoming season depends on it, as well as the club’s future.” He adds, “a failed recruitment can lead to demotion, and this situation always complicates things.” To avoid such situations, it is “essential to find the right mix of players with diverse qualities for the team to function well,” he explained.
“I believe that this year, we have formed a very beautiful team thanks to Brice Donat. It required hours of watching, discussions, and negotiations, as there are contracts to manage and many points to address, based on our observations during training matches. I am convinced that this team will perform and bring us a lot of joy and excitement this season.”
Nice Volley Ball 2024/2025
Presented by their new coach Brice Donat, the professional team is composed as follows:
Ryles Barnes – Receiver-Attacker, Team Captain
Riley Barnes is Canadian. He arrives freshly after a season at the Tourcoing Lille Metropole club. A very experienced player, he has a considerable impact on and off the field. This summer, he participated in the Olympic Games as the 13th player of the Canadian team.
Mason Briggs – Libero
Mason Briggs is one of the new recruits. After spending 4 years in the American university championship, Mason Briggs was elected 4 times best receiver and 3 times best libero in previous American championships, to name just a few.
Nooa Martilla – Receiver-Attacker
Finnish receiver-attacker, Nooa Marttila is one of the youngest recruits in the team. A complete volleyball player, he excels in attack, defense, service, and reception. He was elected Best Receiver-Attacker at the NEVZA U19 Championship in 2023. He is still young, but he has already shown qualities that could make him a future great in volleyball.
Merrick McHenry – Middle Blocker
American middle blocker, Merrick impresses with his athletic abilities, especially his jump. Straight out of the prestigious UCLA college, he is on the verge of joining the United States national team. Merrick stands out for his power in attack and his ability to turn every set into a point. He is promised a great career in the coming years.
Ardo Kreek – Middle Blocker
Ardo Kreek, an Estonian player, is an asset to international volleyball. Former captain of the Estonian team, he is known for his powerful attacks, smashing serves, and blocking efficiency. With over 15 years of experience in the A League, notably with Paris Volley, he represents a valuable recruit for Nice this season.
Simon Hirsh – Opposite
German opposite, Simon shone in the second half of last season. His retention in the lineup is seen as a great success for the club. Disciplined and rigorous in training, Simon is a formidable attacker known for his consistency and effectiveness.
Rodney Ah-Kong – Middle Blocker
Rodney Ah-Kong is among the veterans of the team. A former adversary of Brice Donat on the court, he already impressed with his exceptional jump. Now an experienced player, he mentors the young while remaining a middle blocker known for his solid block and floating serve.
Bruno Dias – Setter
Portuguese setter of 23 years, Bruno starts his first season as the starting setter. He has strong potential and is already showing promising signs. Although he is still young, he is on the path of great progress.
Alexandro Raptis – Receiver-Attacker
Greek receiver-attacker, Alexandro is a key player who impressed last year with his memorable end of the season. He was ranked among the top five receiver-attackers of the league last season, thanks to his power in service and attack.
Valentin Bouleau – Setter
An experienced 29-year-old setter, Valentin has traveled a lot in his career, with stints in Portugal and Estonia. His rich international experience will be valuable for the team and to mentor the young starting setter.
Join us on Friday, September 29 at 5 p.m. for the opening of the Marmara SpikeLigue season. NVB will host Toulouse in its Giamarchi Palmeira venue.
