Friday night in the Palmeraie hall, Nice Volley-Ball (NVB) hosted the team from Narbonne. A showdown between the bottom and second-to-last teams. A tense match that turned in favor of Narbonne, winning 3 sets to 0. (23-25, 30-32, 27-29)
The ordeal continues for the Azuréens, who have now suffered their third consecutive defeat. Firmly settled at the bottom of the league, they have reignited Narbonne’s chances. The latter is back in the fight for survival. Survival, which seems far away for the NVB. “We believe in it, we have no choice, we are professionals. It’s tough mentally, but we owe it to the city, the club, and the supporters. We have a difficult schedule until the end, but we will give it our all and hope. Tonight was a 6-point match, and we lost it,” explained a disheartened Rodney Ah-Kong, the top scorer for Nice that evening. A clear and unblemished defeat in their home. A struggling team. Between technical errors and the inability to finish a set, which has been a specialty this year. The performances are a far cry from last year, where playoffs dominated the daily routine of Nice.
A Resounding Second Set
Five set points that could have changed everything, but in the end, it was Narbonne that made the difference. Coach Fabrice Collados left his players alone to create a psychological shock. It didn’t happen. “Tonight, much like our year, we made far too many technical errors. Yes, the scoreboard looked tight, but on the court, we suffered too much. It comes down to 1 cm, but in volleyball, that’s huge,” analyzed the disheartened coach. The last set was merely a formality for the Audois, despite 4 match points saved by the Azuréens. The current gloom is mainly due to finishing issues during crunch time and a faulty reception. Above all, it’s in the mindset; Rodney Ah-Kong concurs, “It’s tough mentally, I have no explanation. They wanted it more than we did.”
A Tough End of Season
Only 5 matches left for a miracle, a miracle whose chances are dwindling rapidly. “We are having a frustrating season akin to the three sets tonight. We’re not playing smart, and it’s making the difference. This isn’t just now, it’s been a difficult season, but that’s sport,” explained the Riviera coach. In two weeks, they will host their local rival Cannes, a derby that sounds like a match of the last chance. A chance that must be seized to avoid falling into the second division.
