This Saturday evening, the Eagles traveled to Montpellier for the 17th round of the Marmara Spike League. Nice Volley Ball lost in three sets (25-21/25-20/25-21).
Nearly a month and a half after their last league victory, Nice Volley Ball desperately needed a win tonight against Montpellier. The Eagles have been on a streak of six consecutive defeats in the Marmara Spike League, the most recent being last Saturday at home against Tourcoing (0-3). The team from the middle of the table, the Hérault team, holds 7th place in the standings.
The two teams were neck and neck at the start of the game. The Eagles were present in the first set. But Montpellier made the break at the end of the set. MHSC won the set (25-21). The Hérault block made the difference at the end of the set.
The MHSC more effective in key moments
The teammates of Javier Gonzalez still delivered a fine performance. The second set was very similar to the first. No team managed to break away in the score. The gap was created in the middle of the set, in favor of MHSC, despite numerous points from Luis Paolinetti in attack for the Eagles. The Montpellier players won the second set (25-20), well led by an effective Dimitrov-Demyanenko duo in attack. The two set balls saved by the Eagles changed nothing.
Fabrice Chalendar’s men were once again with their backs against the wall this season. Spurred on by François Rebeyrol, the Nice team took the lead at the start of the third set. The MHSC came back into the set thanks to Dimitar Dimitrov, the best player of the match (18 points scored). Montpellier logically won the match in three sets (25-21/25-20/25-21). Despite a decent collective performance, the Eagles suffered their seventh consecutive league defeat.
The next match is on Tuesday, January 23, for the Eagles. Nice Volley will play again in Montpellier for the round of 16 of the Coupe de France. The match is scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m.
