Un groupe et un état d'esprit qui fait plaisir à voir jouer et plaisir à son coach, Loïc Le Marrec. Dorian Cayuela
Winner of Narbonne 3/0 this Sunday for the 15th day of Ligue A Masculine, Montpellier ends the year with a new success, the fourth in a row. It remains second equal with Chaumont and two points behind the leader Tourcoing who at the same time beat Sète (3/1).
In their palace in Castelnau, which was sold out (but with two closed stands) this Sunday evening – the club had offered free admission for this last match of the year – the MHSC VB players took their leadership as a model to pull out all the stops against Narbonne. As against Poitiers, during the previous home match, they controlled the match to win in three straight sets. Forget the first leg when the Centurions cut the momentum of an MHSC VB then on six wins in a row with a stinging three sets to nothing. The Audois have been more comfortable recently away from their base to take points in Paris (3/2 loss) and in Nice won 3/0. But this Sunday, they suffered every time Montpellier went up a notch.
Lopez cracks the defense
A start to the first set where the two teams size each other up, Montpellier widens the gap (9-6) which Narbonne makes up for with a smash from Patte, a block from Schouten, a fault from Dimitrov (10-10), three directs in this set; but it is indeed MHSC VB who are leading the race (16-14, 18-15) with two direct faults in attack which cause Redwitz to take a time-out. Well felt since the Centurions catch up (18-18, 21-21). Lopez's service pass cracks the opposing defense. A block from Corre, two attacking errors from Dijoud and Schouten in reception seal the set at 25-21.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000Montpellier takes risks that pay off
Montpellier starts the second in the same way; a series of Dimitrov serving (3-0), back in play after an interlude, replaced by Lindqvist in the first (5-1). And raises the tone, to take control at the net, at the block with Le Goff (12-6) and Lopez (14-7). The mass is said (19-9) even if Narbonne does not give up (22-14) when Montpellier seems less in it. This is how the Centurions take the 3rd set to their account (5-10) on the impetus of Patte and Schouten. Two aces from Dimitrov (9-12), a series of Lopez serving and Montpellier nibbles away (13-14). Risks paying off on the engagement to regain control at 20-19, 24-21. Narbonne ties up again, saves five match points before giving up on the sixth, 27-25.
Coaches' reactions
Loïc Le Marrec (Montpellier): “We are performing well, the group has pulled itself together well. We are winning but we are playing well. I am very attached to that, it is the state of mind. We can lose, miss out but if there is a fight, we cannot blame ourselves for much and there, the guys are fighting. I was a little afraid after the break – which was a saving grace – at Christmas with three days to prepare for this match but once again, the guys took the good side, from the first points. We are finishing the year well, we are finishing this month of December well. We will be able to celebrate the New Year in the warmth, that is nice. And then we will focus on the Coupe de France in Cannes which is a priority objective. We will then play the matches quickly. The second half of the season will go very very quickly. A month of January always complicated to manage with the fatigue of the first half of the season, the cold that is coming, the little colds… We will have to be very serious about all that. ».
Rafaël Redwitz (Narbonne): “We lacked a little lucidity in certain phases of the game. We were too tense to handle situations with more ease and confidence. We played every point as if they were difficult points, so of course, the match was tiring for us. With players looking at each other like they were at the end of a set or there was no confidence needed to go and get the point. A bit of frustration on this to see that there is still a lack of “killer” spirit on fairly simple phases of play, against a team that knows how to defend one on one and has very high individual technical mastery and does not give away easy points, takes risks at the right time…“.
Technical sheet
MONTPELLIER – NARBONNE, 3-0
Chaban-Delmas sports center in Castelnau-le-Lez.
1,756 spectators.
Referees: Messrs. Galant, Blanc.
Set details: 25-21 in 30’ ; 25-15 in 23’, 27-25 in 35’.
MONTPELLIER: 59 points scored; 5 aces (Le Goff, Dimitrov, 2), 10 blocks (Le Goff, 5), 19 unforced errors including 11 on serve. Corre (3), Seddik (5), Palacios (cap., 16), Le Goff (10), Lopez Pascual (9), Dimitrov (16). Then Lindqvist.
Libero: Phelut.
Enter. : Loïc Le Marrec.
NARBONNE: 44 points scored; 1 ace (Herr), 3 blocks (Migge, Schouten, Touré, 1), 23 unforced errors including 12 on serve. Herr (2), Wiltenburg (5), Patte (cap., 10), Schouten (17), Dijoud (4), Migge (4). Then Touré (2), Colomb.
Libero: Ruiz.
Enter. : Rafael Redwitz.