This Friday evening, Nice Volley Ball hosted Calais for the 18th day of the Men’s Ligue B. And, Klasic Mladen’s men won three sets to one. Three points that are beneficial for the promotion race but achieved after a closely contested match.
In an atmosphere heated by some supporters, Nice struggled before securing the win. The first set was an illustration of this complicated match. The Nice team faced significant defensive issues against a valiant Calais. The Northerners seemed completely uninhibited despite having traveled with only seven players. Quickly trailing 8-5, 14-10, then 20-14, NVB never found the solution. Calais finally won the first set 25-20 in 26 minutes.
Captain Remy Kraska confirmed the difficulties encountered by his teammates during this first set: “We had a complicated start, where we were sluggish and didn’t enter the match well. We held back a lot and even though we didn’t play a great match, we didn’t fall apart. We had a breakthrough at the end of the first set.”
A breakthrough is the right word. The Nice team started the second set with a bang, quickly leading 6-2 then 8-5. At 16-10 in this set, it was clear that NVB had turned things around. Not worried at all and frankly superior to their opponent, the Nice team wrapped up this set in 24 minutes with a score of 25-14.
After a scrappy start, the third set turned in favor of NVB. The turning point of the match occurred when they gained the lead at 14-12. From these two points of difference, the Nice team only increased the score to finally win 25-17 in 25 minutes. Two well-managed sets, as confirmed once more by the Nice captain: “We made good starts in the second and third sets. It was due to good service quality, but we still gave ourselves some scares in the fourth set.”
And even more than just scares. The start of the set was timid, and NVB found themselves trailing 7-2. But with a great mindset and a certain professionalism, Nice got back into the match. At 12-12, the Nice team pulled ahead to lead 15-12. It was at 24-18 that the Giamarchi hall rose as one for the match point.
And the first one was the charm. 25-18 and a victory in four sets, notably thanks to the 25 points from their Romanian opposite hitter, Ciprian Matei. A final result that delighted Remy Kraska: “It was a match where we played somewhat backwards and showed vulnerability. But it’s a victory that is very important for what’s to come. We played without Mitrovic, and it’s also somewhat the victory of the substitutes. Everyone participates, and we’re lucky to play in a hall that is getting louder and louder.”
Thanks to this victory, Nice remains second, three points behind Canteleu, with Avignon coming up tomorrow. Next up is a meeting at the Giamarchi hall next Friday against Nancy at 8 p.m.
