SpikeLigue: MHSC VB wins the derby against Arago de Sète and takes the lead in the standings

Les attaquants sétois ont été trop souvent en échec face à un block montpelliérain supérieur. MIDI LIBRE – Jérôme Belluire

Le MHSC VB a profité de sa victoire (1-3) contre Sète, ce dimanche 12 janvier, pour prendre la tête du classement.

It wasn't a great volleyball match. But one of the two teams at least had the merit of doing the job, without panicking and taking advantage of the opponent's fragility. From the first exchanges, Montpellier took the lead.

The Sète team still managed to get back to 8-8, on an attack by Rippert, but Loïc Le Marrec's men remained the most efficient in blocking (De Leon and Schlienger were the victims) as well as in defense (9-13).

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Palacios, by signing an ace, added another layer (12-18) and the suspense took advantage of it to go for a spin, especially since the Sète attack continued to hit a wall (15-22).

No big flights

The most optimistic among the Arago supporters saw a resurgence of interest when the Montpellier team committed two consecutive faults (18-22). But Palacios did not see it that way. The Argentinian signed two big blocks on a suffering Schlienger (19-24) then the last attack of the set (21-25).

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In a tea room atmosphere, the Arago would still react in the following set, a lucky ace from De Leon gave the locals the break at 14-12. Montpellier quickly got back on track (15-15, then 18-18 thanks to a valuable Lopez), but did not seize the opportunities generously given.

And they ended up letting go after a defense followed by an attack by De Leon (20-18) then a direct error by Le Goff (21-18). De Leon hammered the nail in with an ace and the set, marked by a general indigence in service (seven failures on each side), ended with a missed serve by Corre (25-21).

Apathetic Sète players

The awakening of the Sète players? The expected derby? Not at all. With four consecutive blocks, Montpellier sent a clear message from the start of the third act (1-4). And even when Lopez Pascual, injured in the ankle, had to leave his team, Le Goff took care of the attack and Corre the block (8-12).

At 11-16, proof of the lack of solutions for Sète, Luc Marquet already had no more timeouts. His receivers would have needed them to resist Corre's floating serves (13-19). At the end of the set, Linquist did not tremble and logically wrapped up the affair (20-25).

Faced with an increasingly apathetic Sète team, Montpellier kept up the pace. Le Goff, with his floating serves, put the Arago reception under construction (4-10). The Olympic champion then reminded De Leon of the class gap by pushing back his attack (18-22), then Palacios put an end to this derby without much flavor (21-25).

The coaches' reactions

Loïc Le Marrec, MHSC VB: «  Having known Sète, they are capable of having a very solid level of play. It is this ability that worried me. Overall, the match was fairly balanced. And in one or two positions, they “blew up” and the gap remained the same. We didn't have a great match on serve, but we were very precise in the zones and on the intentions, which made the block-defense easier for us. Regarding Lopez Pascual's exit, we will see the seriousness of his injury. I have a six major but I also have a whole group. Linquist made a good entrance, as did Conré. I have confidence in them, even if confidence is difficult and precarious despite our five victories in a row. It's up to us to maintain it every day. »

Luc Marquet, Sète: «  We are in contact, then we let them go at three, four points. Suddenly, we put ourselves in the red. We manage to pick up a few points but Montpellier is already installed in confidence.  »