Defeated during their match in Cambrai, Nice Volleyball was once again defeated at home this Saturday against Nantes Rezé (3-2). A score that leaves a feeling of déjà-vu for the people of Nice.
Nice Volleyball just can’t get it right. Against Nantes Rezé, Ratko Peris’ men aimed to redeem themselves after their (3-2) defeat in Cambrai, against a Nantes Rezé team that had only won two out of the 12 matches played this season. Unfortunately, fate had other plans. Hence, it is on a new “encouraging” defeat that the Eagles end this 13th day of the Ligue A. Everything had begun so well, though.
Like a déjà-vu feeling
Nice Volleyball made a grand entrance by logically winning (25-17) in the first set. Leading in the score, Nice held their own against Nantes for some time (6-10; 11-12; 16-18). The accumulation of small errors in service and poor reception on the Nantes side left many points to the Azuréens. But despite this, it was indeed the locals who suffered from the Loirians’ play at the end of the set (19-23; 21-23). In the end, it was Nantes Rezé who won (25-23). Nothing was decided yet.
The Eagles still had resources and offered a good game. But in this third set, the Nantes team took advantage of the somewhat passive defense of Nice to pull ahead on the scoreboard (4-9; 6-11; 10-17). Again, service errors and missed receptions multiplied (14-21; 19-22). At that point, Nice pressed the accelerator and came within two points of the visitors (21-23). But the Southerners failed to catch up with their evening opponents and ended up losing (22-25).
All’s well that ends poorly
For Ratko Peris and his men, still deprived of their captain Jérôme Clère, surrendering so easily was out of the question. Especially since Nice Volleyball rallied in the fourth set (7-3; 13-4; 17-8). Fast balls, effective blocks rewarded the efforts and good work of the Azuréens (20-11; 23-13). They eventually secured a large victory (25-14).
With two sets each, the fifth would determine the winner. The players seemed to relive the same scenario as against Sète or Cambrai. Two matches where Nice Volleyball found themselves neck and neck with these teams. Two encounters where a winner had to be named after five sets. On this new occasion, the Niçois and the Nantais showed that they both had character (9-7; 10-11; 13-13).
With such a tight score, it’s enough to make the heart race and put pressure on the players. At 15 all, Nice let crucial balls slip away, which the visitors exploited to secure the final victory (15-17).
Thus, Nice Volleyball records its eighth defeat of the season in eleven matches. Therefore, it is a valiant team from the Azure Coast that leaves the Giamarchi hall, disappointed, but with heads held high. Now 12th in the Ligue A standings, Nice will travel to Narbonne in less than a week (Friday night). Nantes Rezé, with this third victory in thirteen matches, will head to Île-de-France to challenge the capital’s club, Paris Volley.
