For its reunion with its public, Montpellier offered itself a narrow success with character after 2h30 of play

Le Bulgare Dimitar Dimitrov élu homme du match. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

After its opening success in Tours, MHSC VB won its first home match against a great Nice team (3-2). 

Before experiencing the roller coaster of a match lasting over 2.5 hours, this Friday evening, the spectators at the Palais des Sports in Castelnau-le-Lez began by celebrating Nicolas Le Goff and his Olympic gold medal, the second in his collection. Right after, the MHSC VB teammates staged a football match and then lifted the Super Cup trophy won two weeks earlier as one.

Smiles quickly gave way to concentration. Bulgarian Dimitar Dimitrov had the room on its feet after a winning rally (13-13) and when he hit a powerful ace (19-19). On the other side of the net, Nice, in yellow, were holding their own against the locals. Worse, the Côte d'Azur players and their German point guard Simon Hirsch dampened the mood by winning the first set (23-25).

Dimitrov kept his team at arm's length

On their return to the court, Dimitar Dimitrov raised the temperature. The Montpellier point guard tormented his opponents over the net while taking advantage, upstream, of a cannon start from his team (6-1) carried by his Argentinians Ezequiel Palacios and Tomas Lopez Pascual. With seven points scored, the Bulgarian was the great architect of the win of this second set (25-19).

As perfect thorns in the side, the Niçois took the lead in the next set. Off the pace, the MHSC VB was punished by a devilishly efficient opponent (12-19). Tomas Lopez Pascual, the star recruit from Nantes, tried to revive his new team with a formidable series of serves (17-19). But Nice tightened the game and once again aired the Palais des Sports (20-25).

A comeback in the tie-break

A Montpellier in reaction offered itself in the tie-break. Trailing but never far, Nice took the lead as the fourth set entered money time (19-20). The Hérault block needed to return to favour to snatch the equaliser and tip the game into an unbreathable suspense (25-23).

The start of the decisive round was a nightmare for MHSC VB (3-8). On the brink of the abyss, Loic Le Marrec's men turned the situation around (10-10). And, at the end of the suspense, they saved the essential: a victory snatched with guts.

Technical sheet

MONTPELLIER… 3
NICE… 2
Palais des sports de Castelnau
Details of sets 23-25 ​​(30’), 25-29 (26’), 20-25 (31’), 25-23 (31’), 17-15 (26’)

Montpellier: 62 attacks, 8 aces, 13 blocks, 33 faults. Corre (4 points), Seddik (6), Palacios (19), Lopez (17), Le Goff (9), Dimitrov (27) then Spano, Coulet (1). Libéro : Phelut. Ent. : Le Marrec.
Nice : 55 attacks, 8 aces, 11 blocks, 27 fouls. Dias (5), Ah Kong (4), Raptis (16), Hirsch (27), Barnes (11), Kreek (11) then Bouleau, Namboue. Libéro : Briggs. Ent. : Brice Donat.

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