The Eagles hosted Montpellier as part of the 7th day of the Marmara Spike League. After a fine victory against Tourcoing last weekend, the Eagles lost at home, three sets to zero (15-25/21-25/13-25).
Momentum was the keyword of the evening. Nice Volley Ball, in front of its audience, wanted to extend the taste of victory, a week after finding it again against Tourcoing (3-1). Fabrice Chalendar‘s men faced Montpellier, a solid fifth in the standings. The team from Hรฉrault was coming off a home loss against Saint-Nazaire (1-3).
A complicated start to the match for the Eagles
It was Montpellier that managed to create the first gap at the beginning of the first set. The attacks from Hรฉrault, particularly those of the French international Nicolas Le Goff, were damaging the Eagles’ defense. The gap widened to ten points in favor of the Montpelliรฉrains. Quite logically, the team from Hรฉrault won the first set (15-25), on a missed serve by Simon Hirsch.
The beginning of the second set was tighter between the two teams. The Eagles were keeping up, thanks particularly to the successful attacks of Luis Paolinetti and Rodney Ah-Kong. Neither team managed to take more than a two-point lead over its opponent. The set was decided in the last few points. On a final attack that was too long from Luis Paolinetti, Montpellier took the second set (21-25). The team from Hรฉrault made the break in this part.
The Eagles against the wall
Fabrice Chalendar‘s men now had to turn the match around to hope for a victory tonight. The teammates of Javier Gonzalez did not seem able to get into their game this evening, increasingly contesting the refereeing decisions. Without completely widening the gap, Montpellier led the score in this third set thanks to Moritz Reichert, the MVP of the match, on fire in attack.
Midway through the set, the team from Hรฉrault managed to widen the gap against its Nice opponent. The Montpelliรฉrains soared in this end of the match. Montpellier won in three sets (15-25/21-25/13-25), three sets to zero. The team from Hรฉrault dominated the entire match.
The next match is next Saturday, December 2, for the Eagles. Nice will host Plessis-Robinson at the Giamarchi hall, as part of the 9th day of the Marmara Spike League.
