The volleyball players have put the championship on hold to focus on the Coupe de France. Unfortunately, NVB was defeated in its first match against Cannes (3-1).
A month after their heavy defeat in the championship against Cannes, the team from Nice was hoping to get their revenge in the Coupe de France. But on Tuesday evening, this hope quickly turned into disillusionment. Facing an unyielding Cannes team, Brice Donat’s men once again faltered, falling heavily in four sets.
The start of the match, however, suggested a completely different outcome. Right from the outset, the Niçois, buoyed by their star Simon Hirsch, held their own against Cannes. Every point was fiercely contested, and the suspense lasted until the final exchanges. But despite a strong team effort, the Eagles lacked precision in key moments. Conversely, the Cannes team was sharper and clinched the first set by a narrow margin (26-24).
Outmatched on all sides
Unfortunately for Nice, the rest of the match turned into a nightmare. In the second set, errors multiplied on the Nice side, whether in attack, reception, or service. Opportunistic Cannes did not have to exert themselves to take a decisive lead. The gap kept widening under the helpless eyes of the Nice bench. Result: a harsh (25-12) that definitively turned the match.
A slight rebound
The third set was merely a formality for Cannes, while Nice, lacking in confidence, seemed already resigned. Despite some sparks in attack, notably from Hirsch, the Niçois never managed to trouble their opponents. Until 19 all. Previously composed, Cannes began to falter, allowing the Eagles to close the set (25-23), slightly reviving the suspense.
Repeat of the first set in this fourth set. Despite a vigorous start from Cannes, quickly leading 3-1, the Eagles quickly caught up at 6 and then 8 all. A pivotal moment came when the Cannes team decided to accelerate, pulling ahead to 15-12. However, they did not completely break away, maintaining only a 3-point lead. The Eagles even equalized at 16 all. This comeback nevertheless doomed the Niçois. The Cannes Dragons, with mental toughness, won this fourth set: (25-22).
This new setback, the second consecutive defeat across all competitions, confirms a slight downturn for the Nice Volleyball team. But there is no time to dwell on it: the Eagles need to quickly regroup. This Saturday, at 7 p.m., they will travel to Tourcoing (the championship leader with 25 points compared to Nice’s 16 points).
