For their first quarter-final match against Nancy, Nice won 3-2. Despite a complicated match, NVB set themselves up well for the return leg next Tuesday in Lorraine.
What a tough game it was! In a great atmosphere, Mladen Kasic’s men had to fight hard in this quarter-final. Nice needed two sets to really get into their game. The first two were catastrophic with significant defensive shortcomings.
Yet, it was indeed the Niçois who got off to the better start in this match. The Nancy team appeared somewhat unsteady with several service errors. NVB quickly pulled away to lead 10-4 and then 14-9. But the trend inexplicably reversed.
Tension? Pressure? The yellow and blue team became unrecognizable and failed to create a significant gap. The visitors didn’t need much to get back into the game. First closely (15-14, 18-16) and then by equalizing at 18-18. Despite a crucial Mitrovic, the tie remained until 24-23 with a set point immediately converted by Nancy. After 25 minutes, it was the visitors who were in the lead (23-25).
The second set confirmed the end of the first act. NVB appeared shaky, started timidly and was trailing 8-3 and then 10-5. The Niçois were not in it, especially offensively where they did not always make the right choices. The five-point gap stabilized in this set where Nancy played much better.
Gradually, Raphael Corre’s teammates seemed to do better but never managed to make up their deficit. However, with a service error from Ciprian Matei, Nancy obtained a second set point which they converted immediately (25-19). At that moment, things seemed badly off track for the Niçois.
But the third set confirmed the improved disposition of Matei’s teammates. Quickly leading 2-0, they used this short advantage to develop a game more familiar to their Giamarchi hall. And similar to the first set, Nancy made service errors.
This obviously benefited NVB, which gained momentum to lead 16-12 and then 19-14. Mitrovic’s ace, securing a set point (24-17), was proof of Nice’s revival on this decidedly complicated evening. And after three attempts, NVB finally won this set 25-20 to re-enter this quarter-final.
In the fourth set, the crowd played their part perfectly, spurring their team on. After a balanced start that saw Nice and Nancy engage in a see-saw battle, Mladen Kasic’s men pulled away to lead 11-8 and then 14-11. Despite strong resistance, Nancy never managed to come back and Nice took the opportunity to level at two sets all (25-22)!
In a tense fifth set, Nice took the lead (8-5) at the side switch. Annoyed at being tied at two sets all, Nancy clung on to equalize at 10-10. At 14-12, Nice secured a first set point and effectively converted it!
At the end of a crazy evening, Nice indeed won their match three sets to two. See you Tuesday in Nancy to confirm this victory and reach the semi-finals!
