This Saturday evening, Nice Volley-Ball faced Tours for the third playoff match. Trailing by two sets to none, Nice Volley-Ball came close to a miraculous comeback on the Palmeira court. After staging a spectacular fightback to level the scores, the Niçois conceded at the wire in the tie-break (15-13). A cruel defeat that eliminates NVB from the Marmara SpikeLigue playoffs.
An achievement. An achievement was needed to overcome Tours. With their backs against the wall and trailing 2-0 in the series against Tours who had beaten them 25 times in a row, the Niçois had no other choice: win or go home. But the miracle did not happen. The players from Nice Volley-Ball almost overturned the giant. Trailing two sets to none, Brice Donat’s men found the resources to come back… before losing cruelly in an unbearable fifth set.
Incredible volleyball in the first set
No time for hesitation at the start of the match. Spurred on by their crowd, the Eagles launched into battle with energy and conviction. Alexandros Raptis and Simon Hirsch set the tone from the first exchanges. Nice takes the lead (3-1 then 5-3) and relies on strong blocking to maintain the gap. Tours, caught off guard, doubts about their game. However, the Tourangeaux come back and even take the lead, at six all. An advantage they won’t lose until 23 all, when the Eagles decide to fight back. A battle ensues with set points saved on both sides. Until a net attack error from our Niçois. Tours then wins this first set after a beautiful battle, (30-28).
What a fight!
Repetition of the end of the first set, with a very contested match. No point is given away, each exchange becomes a challenge. 6-3, 8-5 for the Eagles. Nice then produces the best sequence of their season. Tours tries to react, but the Niçois maintain their lead until 11-11. A slight pause for NVB which regains strength, 16-13. This doesn’t count the umpteenth comeback of Tours. At this point, both teams fight blow for blow, 17-17, 18-17, 18-18. Tours gets the first set point, but it’s saved just like the next two. However, the fourth set point is the charm for the Tourangeaux, (28-26), who are one set away from the semi-finals. The Eagles are truly at the brink…
The mentality…
Again and again a “your turn, my turn” with two teams wanting to take the lead. Nice leads 12-10, but ten minutes later, Tours leads, 15-14. In this game, Nice breaks Tours mentally as they’ve made a comeback, 18-17, 19-17, 20-17, 21-17. Hope is reborn in Palmeira with a crowd pushing behind their players. Explosion in the hall, when the Eagles win this third set, (25-20). Our Niçois can hope for a comeback!
NVB forces a tie-break
The Eagles’ reaction continues in this fourth set. As if their pride has been pricked, the Niçois increase their intensity in all areas. Tours, a bit worn, falters. The score is close, (25-22), but it’s deserved considering the whole match that everything is decided in the 5th set.
Double-edged…
We’ve been playing for nearly three hours. The fifth set is breath-taking. Both teams deliver head-to-head. One senses that anything can change. But it’s the locals who find the gap first, 2-0. Tours responds and ties at three all. Using their experience, unfortunately, Tours takes back the lead, 6-4. But nothing is decided, with Nice equalizing at six all. An electric atmosphere at Palmeira where everything hangs by a thread. Nine all, 10 all, 11 all, we wonder who will break first… One can and wants to believe in a complete achievement for the Eagles. But in the next rally, a poor reception costs dearly. Tours seizes the opportunity. Final score: (16-14).
An enormous blow to the Niçois, who came close to the achievement but are eliminated 3-0 in this quarter-final series.
Match stats
Match duration: 2h52
Total points: Nice 118-116 Tours
Top scorer for Nice: Simon Hirsch with 22 points
Top scorer for Tours: Ryan Sclater with 22 points
% successful attacks Nice: 48%
% successful attacks Tours: 46%
Successful blocks Nice: 17
Successful blocks Tours: 9.