This Saturday, Nice Volleyball hosted Cambrai at the Gianmarchi-Palmeira hall for the 24th matchday of Ligue A. The match ended in a solid 3-0 victory for Nice (26-24; 25-21; 26-24), reigniting their fight to avoid relegation.
After their last three defeats against Nantes, Ajaccio, and Sète, Nice could no longer afford any missteps. Ratko Peris’s men put on a great show against a Cambrai team that came into this match with three consecutive losses. Nevertheless, it was a match that was far from easy for the Niçois.
Leo Andric still imperial
The beginning of the match was very tight. Players from Nice and Cambrai neutralized each other and presented a positive game. During this well-contested first set, Nice held a slight lead in score (4-2; 7-5; 10-6). After thirty minutes of play, the Cambrai team, led by Gabriel Denys, responded to the Nice team’s attacks. The locals conceded a 5-0 run and were trailing in the match for the first time (16-17; 18-18; 19-20).
But the Eagles did not admit defeat. Thanks to their opposite hitter, Leo Andric, they put pressure on the visitors (21-21; 23-22; 25-24). The Croatian international scored a total of 24 points during the match (63% success rate in attack). Nice narrowly won the first set 26-24. The games were far from over.
The same scenario unfolded during the second set. The match started quite evenly between Nice and Cambrai, with both teams showcasing long and fast rallies (4-4; 7-8; 11-12). Leo Andric was once again in great form, while his counterpart Daniel Cagliari (Cambrai) responded with successful attacks and blocks that prevented Nice from pulling away in the score (15-14; 18-16). At that point, the locals began to widen the gap on the scoreboard and gain confidence in their game (20-17; 22-18; 24-20). The successful blocks from Hector Salerno (Nice) finally paid off, and Nice logically won the second set 25-21. All that was left was to conclude in style.
Highly competitive match, large and well-deserved victory
The Niçois demonstrated undeniable tenacity. In this third set, the Azur team quickly took the lead (6-2; 9-3; 11-6) before being caught up at 16-16. Small technical and adjustment errors crept into the locals’ game, causing them to lose some easy points along the way. Cambrai continued to be present, and the match wasn’t finished yet (18-17; 20-19; 24-24).
With two sets ahead, the final victory was practically assured for Nice, which closed its match with a third set won narrowly, 26-24. Ratko Peris’s men played a great game and delivered a solid performance against this strong Cambrai team, which fought hard until the end.
The Niçois have gained a lot of confidence before hosting Tours on March 20th.
Post-match reactions
Leo Andric: “We are very pleased with our performance tonight. It was far from easy, but the score speaks for itself, and this victory does us a lot of good. We are going to continue on this path to remain firmly in contention for survival.”
Jérôme Clère: “We knew we had the game in our hands. We managed the crucial moments well. We are confident for our next two matches, both at home and away. It’s now up to us to show what we’re capable of, to release the pressure, and finish the season well.”
