**For this 5th day of the Marmara Spike League, Nice Volley-Ball hosted Arago de Sète. Two teams struggling at the start of the season.**
At Palmeira, Nice Volley-Ball was **in search of their first home victory** of the season after two defeats against Tourcoing and Le Plessis-Robinson. **On the other side, the Sète team**, in their second away game, wanted to grab some points, having previously suffered two consecutive home losses.
At the start of the first set, **NVB takes the lead**. Without ever managing to create a big gap, Brice Donat’s players seem in control, but Sète manages to catch up each time. Both teams serve fairly well and make few mistakes. **The Eagles, more effective in attack**, manage to make a difference at the end of the set to win the first set **(25-22)**.
Back on the court, Sète gets back into the game in the second set. Less precise in attack, the Niçois make some reception errors that allow Sète to lead the race. A lack of communication and some poorly constructed plays see the visitors pull away. Despite **Dawid Dulski being effective at the block**, Sète’s defense is well-organized and disrupts Nice’s attacks. Sète takes a lead and maintains a +4 advantage. **Nice makes significant errors during crunch time** that prevent Brice Donat’s men from coming back in the set. **The Héraultais come back to 1-1 (23-25)**.
**The Eagles derail**
Nice makes **too many unforced errors at the start of the third set**. On the other side, the opposite hitter Tristan Schlienger continues his attacking spree, allowing his team to pull away once more (6-9). Despite good serves from the Niçois side, Arago holds their receptions well and stands firm. The Eagles fight for every point and show solidarity. **Dawid Dulski’s effectiveness does the rest**, and Nice comes back to 17-17 before taking the lead thanks to their Polish opposite hitter. The quality serves from Shay Liberman and Lohan Nack-Minyem maintain the gap. **The end of the set is tense and full of suspense**. Unfortunately, **Nice collapses** on an ace from **Tristan Schlienger** and finds themselves trailing two sets to one (25-27).
The Eagles have no choice left, and **Colin Castelnau** steps up a bit, having been struggling since the start of the game. Unfortunately, receptions are lacking tonight, and Nice falls behind again (7-11). Brice Donat tries to stop the bleeding by rotating the setter with the introduction of Pépin Rajoharivelo. It isn’t enough to turn the match in favor of the home team, despite being supported by a full Palmeira tonight. **Arago de Sète leads by +7** and seems to have the match in hand. The Niçois manage to claw back two small points, but the reception problems prove to be **fatal** for the Maralpins. The match is over. **Nice Volley-Ball loses in four sets (22-25/25-23/25-27/17-25)**.
They will need to recover quickly. Next match is next Saturday in Chaumont (7 PM) for NVB.
