You shouldn’t have missed Nice Volley-Ball vs Montpellier this Tuesday! A crucial summit of the Marmara Spike League between an in-form Nice team and the 3rd place in the championship. (Prediction and stakes). The Eaglets are heading to Montpellier UC this Tuesday for an important and anticipated match. Between a solid Nice team recently and an experienced and ambitious Montpellier aiming for the top spots in the Pro A League, the match promises intensity and commitment. Nice will attempt to upset a Montpellier team accustomed to high-level encounters. Both teams have arguments to make, and the tactical battle should be at the heart of the match.
First Set
At the beginning of the match, Nice Volley-Ball struggles to find their footing against the Occitan starting six, who begin the match perfectly (6-3). Both teams have a similar style of play, sharing strengths in service and reception. Each point is prolonged, but the players from Hérault are always slightly ahead (10-7). Thomas Lopez, very versatile for Montpellier, is exceptional in reception, allowing his team to pull ahead, with the score skyrocketing (20-4). Nice will have difficulty catching up as Montpellier shows no weaknesses. Indeed, MHV is relentless, and all of Nice’s attacks are slowed down and immediately countered with direct points (24-18). Match point for the locals is quickly converted, closing the first set at (25-18).
Second Set
The Montpellier machine is in motion, let’s see if Nice can stop it. The eternal Dawid Dulski is finally measuring up against the Montpellier block. A good start for the Eagles led by their young setter Pepin Rajoharivelo, gaining confidence from coach Brice Donat. Nice starts this set much better in a high-level encounter (9-11). But Montpellier tightens the screws with Simon Hirsch, a former Nice player who is more than present in this match. (18-14) What an impression of power Montpellier exudes as they implement their game without seemingly exerting effort. (22-18) Montpellier dictates the exchanges and also claims the second set despite numerous solutions sought by Nice and a close end of the set (25-23). They will need to find solutions as in other matches rival Toulouse is leading Tours 2 sets to zero.
Third Set
The Azuréens start with good intentions and take the lead (2-4), but Montpellier doesn’t give up and counters all of Nice’s rebellions (4-5). The one-sided impression persists despite the Eagles seeming determined not to lose 3-0. Rodney Ah-Kong, the 38-year-old Nice veteran, has been on the court from the beginning and is defending quite well. (8-9) Incredibly, the danger comes from all sides for Hérault and they regain the lead (10-9). Montpellier is truly in their match, continuing with aces and blocks; a 5th winning service by Simon Hirsch gives confidence to his teammates (15-11). The match seems one-sided, and victory seems to beckon Tours, who now have a 6-point lead (18-13). Nice doesn’t seem to have the tools to compete. Greater resistance was expected from Nice, but instead, everything is working for Montpellier, who claim a decisive victory (25-18).
Montpellier was much stronger tonight and they seem unable to find solutions against a team on the podium; this will need to be confirmed on Friday against the champion Tours Volley to not fall behind in the standings. Final result (25-18, 25-23, 25-18)
MVP of the match: Simon Hirsch from Montpellier (3rd in 3 matches!)
Don’t miss the next match! Nice will host Tours, the leader of Pro Ligue A, this Friday, February 6th at 8 pm, thus a new formidable challenge
