Volleyball: In its return to the championship, Nice Volley-Ball loses to Tours

Nice Volley-Ball’s squad changed drastically during the summer break. Driven by the youth of these new recruits, the Eagles gave Tours Volley-Ball a tough time in this opening match, but lost (3-1).

After more than six months without playing any official matches, the Nice Volley-Ball Eagles returned to the French first division, newly named Alterna Volstar, for a difficult opening match on paper against Tours Volley-Ball (TVB).

Eighth in the 2025-2026 regular season, Nice Volley-Ball (NVB) had been eliminated in the final phase by their neighbor, AS Cannes Volley-Ball, in a cruel golden set. The Tourangeaux, for their part, had easily finished the group phase in first place, but lost to Paris Volley in the final phase.

TVB, French champions in 2022-2023 and 2024-2025, is the best French club of the decade, and is among Europe’s top clubs. In the championship, the Eagles had been soundly beaten by these Tourangeaux twice last year without winning a single set.

In the French Cup, the Eagles had managed to pull off a surprise by beating TVB in the semi-final after an incredible comeback (3-2), before losing in the final. Needless to say, the Nice side had to be at their best level from the start to hope for a result tonight on Tours soil.

Nice in the opening match

You could have expected a trouble-free match for Tours, yet the start of the match was tight. At the beginning of the first set, the Eagles showed a lot of confidence, and very few unforced errors in their attacks. Precise in building offensive movements, the Nice team remained close to the Tourangeaux for a long time: 12-11.

Carried by their new star recruit, Earvin N’Gapeth, the home side eventually made the difference, and won 25-17 in the first set. (1-0)

This did not discourage the Eagles, who came back more motivated than ever in the second set. Hotly contested from start to finish, it seemed the set was well in hand for Tours with a three-point lead at the end, 23-20. But that was without counting on the young Nice recruits who showed their talent.

The young receiver-attacker Fausto Diaz was imperious at the end of the set. A clinical smash, a perfect reception, two aces, and here the Nice players were back in the match with the win of this second set: 24-26. (1-1)

Frustrating end to the match

In a match where both teams had each won a set, the third is often a turning point, and that was the case in this encounter.

Still on fire, the young 20-year-old Argentine, Fausto Diaz, continued on his roll. He managed to capitalize on every attack ball, either with a winning smash or with a block-out provoked by hitting straight into the opposing blockers. Nice had taken the lead in this important set, 17-21.

Unfortunately for Brice Donat’s men, the set turned in the wrong direction, due to some youthful mistakes. At 23-22, the poor positioning of a Nice player on the opposing serve cost a penalty point. Third set won by Tours: 25-23. (2-1)

In the fourth set, the Tourangeaux confirmed the advantage they had gained in the third set. They led from start to finish and won 25-19 to conclude this first meeting of the season. (3-1)

The Eagles did not fall short in this match, and can regret the loss of the third set, which turned this encounter in their disfavor. With an average age of 22 years, there is no doubt that the young Nice group will confirm the promise shown today. Next match Tuesday, October 20, at home, against Poitiers. Kick-off at 8 p.m.